Heavy rainstorms swept through northern Syria from 16 March 2023, causing widespread damage and flooding and further hardship for thousands of people living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
The EU’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO) reported at least eight people died in the floods in Al Hasakah, Ar-Raqqa and Kobane. DG-ECHO also reported the damage or destruction of infrastructure, bridges and agricultural land.
Syria Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, reported heavy rains hit areas in northern Aleppo including Afrin District on 17 March, causing damage to several camps, including those sheltering earthquake victims. Damage in the camps sheltering the earthquake survivors in the city of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, on 18 March.
The White Helmets issued photographs of some of the flooded camps.
“These aerial photos of Adwan camp in the western #Idlib countryside of #Syria capture more than just rain-drenched tents. They depict a heart-wrenching story of wandering souls searching for a lost homeland. It’s a tale of oppression that has been ongoing for 12 years now.
“Our teams are responding, opening waterways and helping civilians,” the White Helmets said.
As of 19 March, a total of 938 tents from various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and earthquake shelter camps were affected.
