Recently, the water level of al-Assi River, which passes near residential areas and camps in western Idlib countryside, has been increased due to heavy rain and the opening of dams on the river, leaving some camps on the banks of the river under a threat of being flooded as well as the displacement of its inhabitants.

The “Hammam al-Sheikh Issa” camp is one of these camps, which hosts several families who were displaced during the recent military escalation in Hama and Idlib. The camp inhabitants have suffered as river water reached close to their tents.

In his testimony, an inhabitant of the camp speaks to SOHR: “Every year in which the “Qarqour” dam is opened in Sahl Al-Ghab, the water level of the al-Assi River rises, and all the camps on its outskirts are affected. In the last few days the river water reached the tents and began to rise gradually. The camp was evacuated completely for two days, while the camp inhabitants were forced to leave to different places which caused additional suffering.”

The camp’s inhabitants are isolated from neighbouring villages because of the collapse of the bridge connecting the camp with the eastern villages, due to the pressure of the river water as its level rose. The bridge is of great importance to civilians, as it is considered a link and transit between the eastern and western sides, and its collapse has constituted a significant burden on many civilians.

The families in this area use ferries to move between the two sides of the river, which is difficult and dangerous. The ferries are supervised by young men, and there are plenty ferries in the area. Where it has become a profession from which many people earn money.

On the other hand, these ferries put the lives of people at great risk, as many civilians, including women, children and the elderly fell overboard due to its instability in the water. Most of these ferries are made of metal barrels, primitive materials, wood, tyres and other materials. They pose a great danger to those who use them, in the absence of another solution that shortens the distances between regions.