ALEPPO, Syria — Small and medium weapons have spread not only among the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions and police forces in the towns and camps of the Euphrates Shield area in ​​Aleppo countryside, but also among thousands of civilians. The chaotic spread of firearms has had a serious impact on the local community, killing and wounding civilians in clashes with FSA factions or other residents.

The clashes that erupted between the Asaniyeh and Saitat families Oct. 13, in Sejo camp near Azaz in the northern Aleppo countryside, killed a child and wounded 12 civilians including women and children.

This alarming situation prompted the Salama local council, with which 14 small villages in Azaz countryside are affiliated, to issue a decision Oct. 16 to search for and confiscate weapons, arrest armed individuals and prevent the entry of firearms into the camps. The decision entered into force 24 hours following its issuance.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Ahmad Eid, head of the Sejo municipal council, which is part of the cluster of 14 villages under the Salama local council, said, “The council’s decision was issued in order to have the FSA factions and military and civil police agencies implement it by conducting patrols in the camps and searching for weapons. This phenomenon needs to end.”