Syria’s internally displaced in dire need of aid
Amid the lack of basic services in the camps for displaced people in Aleppo’s northern countryside, officials are calling on local and humanitarian organizations to step up and provide aid.
ALEPPO, Syria — Displaced persons from various Syrian cities currently living in Aleppo’s northern countryside camps, especially in the vicinity of Azaz, are trying to survive the winter under the difficult humanitarian situation. There is no heating in these camps, as local and international humanitarian organizations are reluctant to provide assistance to displaced people in unorganized camps along the Syrian-Turkish border.
During the past several months, thousands of displaced people have arrived in the camps in the northern countryside of Aleppo, fleeing the battles in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and in Hama’s eastern countryside. Aleppo’s northern countryside is relatively safe, but its camps do not have enough space to accommodate all of the displaced people.
This has pushed many to settle in agricultural areas near the organized camps. They have erected unorganized camps that lack the bare necessities to live. The displaced have no drinking water and no heating equipment.
According to statistics collected by activists in the area in November, there are 13 organized camps in Aleppo’s northern countryside that are home to 109,849 people, and there are 23 unorganized camps holding 61,813 people.
