In “bitter cold” winter weather, the situation of people in the camps is disastrous, says Else Kirk of the NGO. “Their mattresses are wet and cannot be dried, there is a lack of blankets.” In addition, most do not have money for heating.
According to the United Nations, about a quarter of a million people in need in the region have been affected by snow, rain and low temperatures.
UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Mark Cutts speaks of “horror scenes” that have taken place in recent days. “Our first responders got people out of collapsed tents,” he said. Many of the people did not have a shovel and had to clear the snow with their bare hands.
The region is the last major area under rebel control. According to UN figures, about 2.8 million refugees live there, most of them in camps. The UN is unable to provide them with the necessary assistance due to a lack of resources, Cutts said.
The war in Syria, which started in 2011 with the suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations, has subsided in recent years. However, regime forces and their allies are still occasionally attacked, as are insurgents in Idlib province, the last stronghold of rebels and jihadists in Syria.