Disastrous situation | Residents of refugee camps in western Deir Ezzor struggle with harsh weather amid acute shortage of essentials
Civilians inhabiting refugee camps in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor have been suffering from acute shortage of essentials, poor healthcare and relief support and deteriorating infrastructure, amid complete suspension of support provided by humanitarian and human rights organisations.
Makeshift camps are scattered along the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, precisely the area from Al-Jazarat town to Muhaymidah town, where these camps accommodate over 40,000 Syrians, who displaced from areas controlled by regime forces and Iranian-backed militias in east Euphrates during earlier military battles in that region.
In the currently-harsh weather, inhabitants of those camps are struggling to secure their livelihood in light of disastrous humanitarian and living conditions.
Speaking to SOHR, a 25-year-old displaced woman known by her initials as A. K. from Al-Shawla area in south Deir Ezzor desert says, “the situation of women in these camps is dire, as they are struggling with congestion, unstable situation, lack of job opportunities and deteriorating economic situation. This winter is the harshest in the past five years, when we displaced from our land, as assistance provided by humanitarian organisations and relevant authorities, mainly food and bread, have been suspended, as well as the suspension of financial support provided to small projects, such as sewing workshops, so that they earn their living and provide for their families.”
Another 40-year-old woman known as A. A., who has been displaced from her house which is near Ayyash warehouses and Al-Sa’qaa camp in Ayyash village and has not been allowed to return to her houses, says that she has had no options but displace to Hawayij Bomas’aa camp, aka “Al-Salman camp, which suffer from basic livelihood. The woman, who lives with her family of five in a very worn tent, has told SOHR “for two consecutive days, we have not bought vegetables, fruit or meat, because of our poor financial abilities, amid inability by humanitarian organisations to provide sufficient support to the camps’ inhabitants. I appeal to humanitarian organisations to provide support, such as holding sewing courses and securing equipment, so that we can provide for our family.”
In a testimony to SOHR, a 55-year-old woman known as A. Q. from Al-Shawla area and now living in Saferah camp in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor has commented on the dreadful living conditions in light of the high prices of food, saying “the price of an egg is 800 SYL and a pack of high quality bread is 3,500 SYP, at a time when a few amounts of subsidised bread is distributed by delegates of Muhaymidah council. This winter, no subsidised bread, household gas and diesel have been distributed to Saferah camp’s inhabitants under the pretext that ‘displaced people have no allocations to be provided by the council.’ I appeal to humanitarian organisations and relevant authorities to provide urgent assistance to displaced people in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.”