While millions of citizens moved away from their homeland due to the civil war, hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens became refugees in their own country. Under the leadership of Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and Communication Platform, tent camps in Syria's Idlib were visited. 25 journalists working in different media in Turkey had the opportunity to see the problems of the victims of the civil war living in tent camps. While the victims living in tent camps wanted their children to have a better tomorrow, they also thanked Turkey for the help they received against their troubles.
Syrian families, who have become refugees in their own country as a result of the civil war that has been going on for about 10 years, are trying to maintain their lives by settling in tent camps. Not only the effects of the civil war but also harsh winter conditions make life difficult in tent camps. IHH and Communication Platform organized a meeting that brought 25 journalists and families living in tent camps together in order to bring up the human tragedy in Syria.
“DESPITE THE WAR, WE OBSERVED EFFORTS TO RETURN TO NORMALITY”
IHH Syria Studies Media Officer Selim Tosun stated that the extent of the difficulties experienced by the victims living in the tents can be seen through these trips, and said, “Within the framework of this visit, the families explained the difficulties they experienced in the tent life and the current camp conditions became more livable when the tents were converted into briquette houses. We witnessed with our journalist friends how important it is. With our visit to the city center of Idlib, we observed how important the efforts to return life to normal are despite the war and the social life and trade that people have longed for 11 years.”
“WE SHOULD IMPROVE THE PEOPLE'S STATUS IN SYRIA”
President of the Communication Platform, Yusuf Ziya Çataklı, who pioneered the program, stated that they carried out this work to bring the problems in Syria to the agenda through the media.
“We wanted to bring together friends of media workers in order to support and raise the issues through the media about people live in tented houses. We, 25 journalists, came with our friends and wanted to see the situation here one-on-one. It is not right to demand the return of Syrians living in Ankara and Istanbul before the situation of the citizens here is improved. These people need to be given a future," he said.
“MAY GOD BE PLEASED WITH TURKEY”
A Syrian citizen named Muhammed, who migrated from the Muharattun region to the Bidli tent camp in the Hazzano Region in the countryside of Idlib, stated that the winter conditions were tough this year and said, "Many tents were damaged. Due to the damaged tents, we had to stay 10 families in one tent. We also had problems with heating due to expensive heating materials. We also have a shortage of medical supplies, but God bless the Turkish people and Turkish administrators, if this border gate is not opened, we would be under siege.”
“I WANT MY CHILDREN TO BE IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN ME”
A Syrian citizen named Ayşe, who had to migrate to the Bidli tent camp in the Hazzano Region in the Idlib countryside from Serakki region, noted that the cold has increased for 40 days and children are more affected by this situation, and said, "Life is really hard here, it gets very cold when it snows. We find it difficult to cook because there is not much food. Children want good food like chicken, but because there is no opportunity, we can make things like rice and bulgur. We have nothing but this tent, I would like my children to be in a better condition than me.”