RÛBARÎN BEKIR

Shahba- The Syrian government has imposed a siege on Shahba Canton for more than five years. People living in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo face difficulties in accessing essential supplies due to the siege. Due to the burning hot weather, infectious diseases have spread among children in the IDPs camps hosting people who have been displaced from Afrin to Shahba after the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions occupied Afrin.  The siege prevents the displaced people of Afrin in the camps from accessing medical supplies.

‘'The tents are not suitable for winter and summer’

In an interview with NuJINHA, Eyşe Xalo, a displaced woman of Afrin living in an IDPs camp, pointed out that the tents are not suitable for winter or summer, adding, “They do not protect us from freezing weather in winter and burning hot weather in summer. Now, we suffer from the lack of medicines due to the siege. Infectious diseases have spread among children; however, we cannot access medical supplies due to the siege imposed by the Syrian government.” Eyşe Xalo told us that they have a strong will to overcome difficulties.

“The suffering of displaced people in the camps increases in summer,” said Aliye Muhammed, Co-chair of the Health Committee of Afrin-Shahba. “The hot weather leads to the spread of skin diseases, particularly Leishmaniasis. Due to the siege imposed by the Syrian government on Shahba Canton for years, we cannot access essential supplies, especially medical supplies.”

Call on humanitarian organizations

Noting that the siege brings the  healthcare services to a near-standstill, Aliye Muhammed said, “This causes the condition of many patients to deteriorate. The long-lasting power cuts cause food spoilage. Many children and old people get sick because they cannot eat healthy foods. We call on the humanitarian organizations to take action for displaced people living in camps.”