RAPARÎN BAKER

Shahba- The earthquakes that struck Turkey, Kurdistan and Syria on February 6 and February 20 have killed and injured thousands of people and damaged many houses and buildings. After the earthquakes, more than 3.000 families living in Aleppo went to the Shahba canton. The Serdem IDPs camp in Shahba opens its door to the earthquake survivors despite its limited opportunities. Since the earthquakes, the Afrin-Shahba Council has made great efforts to provide housing opportunities for the earthquake survivors. The council has announced that they have set up 300 tents in the Serdem IDPs camp for the earthquake survivors.

A member of the council, Nisreen Süleyman said, “The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6 caused extensive damage in Aleppo. For this reason, we open the door of the camp for the earthquake survivors in order to provide a safer space for them. The number of the earthquake survivors, who take shelter in the camp, has recently increased. For this reason, we set up new tents in the camp for them. We have set up 300 tents for the families coming from Aleppo.”

‘Lift the siege’

Speaking about the difficulties and impossibilities faced by the council, Nisreen Süleyman said, “We try to provide tents for all earthquake survivors. However, we face many difficulties in meeting the needs of the earthquake survivors due to the suffocating siege on Shahba canton.” Calling on the relevant authorities and the international community to protect the earthquake survivors, Nisreen Süleyman also called on the Syrian government to lift the siege so that they can provide a safe place for the earthquake survivors.

‘We came to the camp to be safe’

Malik Alloush is one of the earthquake survivors settled in the Serdem camp. “After the earthquake, we did not know how to protect ourselves and our children in Aleppo. We came to Shahba canton because we think tents are safer. The camp management set up tents for us despite its limited opportunities. But we still need fuel and many materials to hold on to life,” Malik Alloush told NuJINHA.

‘The Autonomous Administration helps us’

Mayada Ali, an earthquake survivor living in the Serdem camp, said, “Our house in Aleppo collapsed after the earthquake. After staying in rain and freezing temperatures, we decided to come to Shahba canton because we did not have any place to take shelter in Aleppo. Since the first day of the earthquakes, the Autonomous Administration has mobilized everyone to help us. Two days ago, a tent was set up in the camp for us. The help and support provided by the Autonomous Administration shows that it has the solution to the Syrian crisis.”