The world has been witnessing a human tragedy since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. In Idlib, one of the most damaged areas of the war, there are ruined buildings and millions trying to hold on to life in tents. Hundreds of thousands of young, old, men and women live in tents provided by NGOs. Those who cannot reach these tents stay in makeshift tents that they built with their own means. In some regions, people continue to live even in buildings that have been destroyed. Although Idlib is under constant attack, people continue their lives in the city.
Ten years have passed since the Syrian civil war, which started in 2011 and caused the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians and the migration of millions of people. Undoubtedly, Turkey has been the most distressed and most endangered in the past 10 years. Hosting millions of people from Syria, Turkey has also carried out operations against terrorist organizations such as the PKK's Syrian extension PYD and American-origin DEASH. Turkey, which organized three operations in the north of Syria under the names of Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring, gave the signals of a new operation after the PYD terrorist organization threatened its border. As Milli Gazete, we are in Syria to examine the political and social situation in the region.
ALMOST 1 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN TENT
There are 1,270 tent cities in Idlib. More than 50% of them do not even have toilets or bathrooms. There is no educational activity in the tents, and there is no mosque. Nearly 1 million people struggle for their lives in tent cities where people live under these conditions. Every winter, stove poisoning and fires occur in the tents that reflect all the severity of the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter.
PEOPLE HOLD IN DESTROYED BUILDINGS
After 4-day investigations in Azez and Afrin, Milli Gazete reporter Furkan Erten, who entered the Idlib region, where Russia and the Assad regime attacked non-stop, watched the life in the city and talked to people. The upper floors of many buildings in the city, where every corner is filled with rubble, have been destroyed by rocket attacks. Despite being demolished, people still live in these buildings.
THEY RENT LAND AND BUILD TENTS
Hundreds of thousands of people are trying to hold on to life in tents in Idlib, where people immigrating from other parts of Syria, especially Aleppo, are predominant. People who cannot find a place in the tent cities established by NGOs set up their tents by paying rent on some lands. In Idlib, where infrastructure and electricity services are better than other cities, the health system is in a deplorable state. Especially in the city where there is a serious increase in coronavirus cases, no precautions can be taken.
“EVERY PLACE WE LIVED BOMBED”
Abu Ahmed, "Some of us came to Atarib from the Salahuddin region of Aleppo, some of us by transport, some of us on foot. That's where it became the front line. The places we live in have been bombed by the regime. Finally we had to come this far. Our children used to cover their heads with pillows in order not to hear the sound of bombs in Atarib. There, a 40-year-old relative of ours died in the Russian bombardment. 60 families from the same village live here. We rented it to the owner of the land and kept it and set up tents. We continue to live this way," he said.
LIFE GOES ON DESPITE ALL THE NEGATIVES
A cloud of dust circulates in the city, which resembles a large construction site. Almost every street is full of potholes. Despite all these negativities, it is remarkable that life in the city continues. Tens of thousands of people are living their lives, albeit on a scarce basis.