Heavy rain hit the northern Syrian province of Idlib and northern Latakia over the weekend. The torrential rain has flooded refugee camps and damaged homes and cars. According to Syrian Civil Defense, two children were killed by the floods.
A team from the Syrian Red Crescent wanted to help flood victims, but fell victim to the rain themselves: On Sunday night, the team was driving in the emergency vehicle to the Jabal al-Turkman region when the vehicle was washed into the valley by the floodwaters. Samiha Rakhamiya, disaster protection coordinator in Latakia, died. Four other volunteers were injured, some seriously, reports the Red Crescent. A fifth volunteer was injured while trying to rescue a child trapped by floodwaters.
The overflow of the al-Asi River flooded tents of refugees in the refugee camps of Kharbat al-Jawz in the western province of Idlib. Photos and videos show the destruction of the camp’s fragile infrastructure: The flash floods swept away dozens of tents, broke through mud walls and damaged the belongings of families who had been displaced during the war.
Videos and images show flooded streets. People walk through muddy water that almost reaches their knees. In Darkush, near the border with Türkiye and on the Al-Asi, agricultural land was flooded. Al Jazeera posted pictures from Jisr al-Shughur, showing flooded cars and shops.
1,800 tents damaged
More than 5,000 people had to be evacuated, around 1,800 tents were damaged and 150 tents were completely destroyed, reports the UN. A local hospital was forced to close because of the flooding.
“The authorities have set up emergency shelters and provided additional housing for families in need,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said on Sunday. UN partner organizations worked to relocate families, repair shelters and provide emergency aid.
Countries in West Asia and North Africa are among the regions in the world most affected by climate change. The impacts include not only higher temperatures, but also increased droughts and water shortages, but also floods and rising sea levels. Man-made climate change is increasing extreme rainfall.
“Give us some of the aid money that goes to Syria and we can start rebuilding with our own hands,” refugee Maryam Hassan told the broadcaster Al-Jazeera. She had to flee Khirbet al-Jozin with her family to a school and lost her belongings.
5.5 million internally displaced people
Raed al-Saleh, minister of emergency and disaster management in the interim government and head of the Civil Defense (White Helmets), promised that the government would find a sustainable solution for the displaced people. However, only around 20 percent of the most recently promised aid money has arrived. “This has a major impact on humanitarian aid.”
As a result of the civil war and ongoing violence, 5.5 million people are still internally displaced, includes the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The internally displaced people live in adverse conditions, often in houses that are in danger of collapsing, makeshift shelters or tents made of wooden frames with tarpaulins stretched over them.