HADEEL AL-OMAR

Idlib- In the city of Idlib, controlled by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), displaced women face many challenges due to weak tents that do not protect them from the cold and rain of winter.

‘Winter in the camp is a nightmare’

Hamida al-Boshnaq, a woman in her thirties, has been living in an IDPs camp, located in the Bardaqli region of Idlib, for four years. “Winter in the camp is a nightmare,” she told NuJINHA. “It's a race against time to repair our tents by using the simplest and available materials. But our tents leak when it rains. Nights are very cold and we have only thin blankets to protect our children from the cold of winter.”

Hamida al-Boshnaq has tried to repair her tent many times using pieces of cloth and plastic; however, the winds and rain are always stronger than her tent.

‘We do not have safe heating methods’

Fatima Al-Dhikra (41) is a displaced woman living in Al-Wahla camp, north of Idlib, along with her five children. “We need good insulation for the tents and safe heating methods. Last year, I sent my children to the house of one of my relatives because our tent leaked. In winter, we burn household items and plastic to keep our children warm.”

Jamila Al-Shahami, an elderly woman who lives alone in an IDPs camp. She tried to repair a huge tear in her tent by using a blanket. “I did my best to repair it; however, it did not work. I stay awake all night because I fear that my tent will collapse. I try to protect myself from the cold and rain of winter by using some old blankets.