A cold snap with snowfall has significantly worsened the situation in the Washokani refugee camp in northeastern Syria. According to residents, several tents have collapsed under the weight of the snow, and many others have been rendered uninhabitable by water ingress. Those affected report a lack of heating materials and humanitarian aid.
For years, the camp near the city of Hesekê has been home to thousands of displaced persons from the Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ain) region who were forced to leave their homes during the Turkish invasion in 2019. Refugees told an ANHA reporter that older tents in particular are now badly damaged and no longer offer adequate protection against the weather.
“Our tents cannot withstand the snow and cold, water is getting in and many people are sick,” said camp resident Kamra Ibrahim Abdo. The woman, who comes from Serêkaniyê, reported respiratory diseases, fever, and hypothermia among the population. “The last diesel ration is not enough. We need at least 15 liters of heating oil per day, but there are hardly any supplies,” she said.
According to their statements, several people have already required medical attention. “Our mattresses are soaked, and the floors in the tents are flooded,” Abdo continued. She said their greatest wish is to return to their homeland: “We just want to go back to our homes. But right now, we urgently need new tents.”
Rami Khidr, a displaced person from the Til Temir region, also described the difficult situation: “There is not enough heating. Our tents are damaged, we lack blankets, diesel, and humanitarian aid in general.” He called on aid organizations and authorities to intervene immediately: “We want to return home, but until then we need protection and support.”
The Washokani Camp, which houses several thousand people, reaches its limits every time there is a cold spell. The infrastructure is weak and humanitarian aid is insufficient. This regularly leads to dramatic emergencies, especially in the winter months. Cold spells also exacerbate the humanitarian situation in other camps for displaced persons every year.
