The authorities managing the refugee camps in the northern province of Raqqa and northeastern province of Hasakeh in Syria have warned that the areas are vulnerable to a second coronavirus wave given the shortage in humanitarian aid and continued drop in temperatures.
The overcrowded camps already suffer from a lack of basic services, such a proper sewage, toilets and electricity.
Refugees in the Washokani camp west of Hasakeh city are already enduring challenging humanitarian conditions given the lack of support from United Nations agencies because the regime refuses to recognize the camp.
A director at the camp told Asharq Al-Awsat that it is hosting some 14,500 refugees and medical authorities have confirmed coronavirus cases.
Medical teams have managed to contain the outbreak, she added.
Authorities are implementing strict measures at the entrances of the camp to control the outbreak.
They have warned of a humanitarian disaster as the summer approaches and the scorching heat that comes with it that its conducive to the spread of other diseases besides COVID-19.
Health authorities in the autonomous administration in northern and eastern Syria confirmed on Monday three new deaths from the pandemic and 28 new infections. Cases now total 8,717 and deaths stand at 331.
In Raqqa’s Tal Abyad camp, refugees have complained of the foul smell coming from sewage waste at the camp. They fear that the conditions will lead to the spread of diseases with the coming summer.
Authorities have urged relief agencies to provide immediate support to introduce radical solutions to the situation.
Director of the camp, Mohammed al-Sheikh warned of the second wave of the pandemic, as well as other diseases given the poor hygiene conditions.
Sewage is collected near the camp in a large 500-meter long and 5-meter-wide pond.
One refugee, Hussein al-Ibrahim fled to the camp from Tal Abyad after the Turkish offensive against the region in 2019.
He expressed his fears that his children could drown in the pond, revealing that a relative had previously died there.
Tal Abyad is home to some 3,500 refugees.
