Omar Youssef - Northern Syria
The family of Rashid Alayyan has sought refuge in a school in al-Hasakah (northeast Syria), after being displaced from the city of Ras al-Ain, due to the intensification of fighting in its surroundings between the Turkish forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, which controls large areas of northeast Syria.
Since the start of preparations for the Turkish military operation "spring of peace", Olayan says that dozens of families in the city of Ras al-Ain have moved towards the southern countryside and the cities of Qamishli and Rumilan, to escape the fighting.
Initially, he did not want to be displaced with his family, but the sounds of explosions and cannons that approached his home forced him out as soon as possible, without carrying the necessary needs and baggage, he says.
After an arduous and arduous journey from Ras al-Ain to al-Hasakah, the displaced family ended up in a classroom, before receiving blankets and an emergency food basket.
| Some families did not find shelter in Raqqa countryside and deported from one place to another (Al Jazeera) |
In the open
If the family of Alian is fortunate, the family of Muhammad al-Tadmuri spreads the land and curves the sky on the threshold of the city of Raqqa (central Syria), after the Syrian Democratic Forces evicted families from Ain Issa camp (north of Raqqa), as a result of clashes between the families of former ISIS operatives and civilians. According to Palmyra.
After leaving, the family of a father, mother and three children is facing the unknown. Entering the city of Raqqa, which is under the control of the SDF, needs a sponsor, and if the family is lucky to enter, they don't have enough money to rent a house.
Al-Tadmari says he has not received any help since leaving the camp, while the family refuses to return to the city of Palmyra in Homs countryside for fear of arrest by Syrian regime forces, which control the city; making survival options difficult.
| Associations provide basic services of water and food baskets for the displaced (Al Jazeera) |
Future concerns
Despite the Turkish-American agreement to stop the Turkish attack for five days, until the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from the "safe area"; the threats of military escalation and the return of fighting still threaten the flow of new displaced.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 150,000 civilians have left their homes, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has estimated the number of children displaced by about 70,000.
The Kurdish Red Crescent said that a number of non-governmental organizations had been forced since the beginning of the fighting to evacuate its foreign cadres from the region; because of the deteriorating situation there.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a "sustainable and safe humanitarian supply route for civilians", allowing humanitarian organizations to continue their work.
Meanwhile, local NGOs are supporting IDPs, especially in al-Hasakah governorate. According to Qandil al-Amal director Sheikho Hassan, the number of IDPs is estimated at more than 11,000, most of them in 38 schools.
Hassan is likely to double the number of displaced people if the situation continues in this way, adding that the association has an emergency plan to receive a larger number of displaced people and provide basic necessities for them.