Mabrûka camp not ready to cope with winter months

The 2,500 refugees still housed in the camp in Serêkaniyê province are still waiting for aid organisations to honour their promise to help.

The Mabrûka Camp was founded in 2015 by the Autonomous Administration in the town of Mabrûka in Serêkaniyê to house those who had to emigrate due to the attacks of DAESH mercenaries.

When the camp was first established, it housed around 4,000 people, but reached a population of 26,000 due to the occupation by DAESH of cities like Tedmur, Raqqa, Manbij and Tabqa.

After the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberated many of these areas in Raqqa, Manbij, Tabqa and Deir ez-Zor, most of the refugees were able to return to their homes. There are now 2,500 people in the camp, 2,000 from Deir ez-Zor and 500 from Tedmur.

Unfortunately the camp seems to have been forgotten by aid charities and associations and in fact no adequate preparations were made to face the winter months. The only help provided is that by the Autonomous Administration, which is struggling to respond to the needs of the refugees.

Nasir al-Seyid, who settled in the camp after migrating from Deir ez-Zor, said that there were many shortcomings in the camp, especially regarding health.

He underlined that the tents have not been changed for a year, and added: "In the winter months, new tents and clothes and shoes are needed especially for children. There is also no milk for children. It is especially for children, - he added - that action should be taken as soon as possible".

Casim Mihemed also said that aid organizations promised to help refugees and that the people in the camp expect them to honour their promise.

Camp's manager, Faîz lbrahîm, said that the people's demands and needs were delivered to aid organizations.

To cope with the winter months, he added, new tents, clothes and food needs are an urgent necessity. “We would need - Ibrahim added - 500 tents, 2,500 blankets, clothes for children and an ambulance. We hope someone would answer to our call".