NewsHero (beta) - Humanitarian Groups Struggle To Aid Displaced Syrians
October 19, 2019 Issue 2
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Humanitarian Groups Struggle To Aid Displaced Syrians
As more flee fighting, reaching those in need becomes increasingly difficult
A Syrian woman with her children, who are newly displaced by the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria, receives a tent from a Kurdish humanitarian worker on Oct. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
With battle lines quickly shifting, aid groups in northeastern Syria struggle to reach the more than 160,000 fleeing the fighting. The withdrawal of American troops from northern Syria has allowed Turkey and Russia to move in and displace Kurdish allies.
Sonia Khush, the Syria response director at Save the Children, said the camp in which it was operating is “nearly empty,” while the majority of the aid group’s local staff have themselves been displaced. “We have to leave as the battle lines change,” Khush said.
While many charities have announced plans to evacuate, others remain in Syria helping in displacement camps.
Though most of the displacement has been within northern Syria, many refugees have crossed into Iraq. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, 1,006 people had arrived in Iraq since hostilities began October 9. “We expect more and more in the coming days,” spokesman Tom Peyre-Costa said. “Winter is coming, and with harsh conditions in Syria, displaced people will be more and more likely pushed to migrate towards Iraq, where they can seek shelter.”
Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Thursday terms of a cease-fire agreement aimed at ending the violence between Turkey and Kurdish forces. The announcement came following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Via Twitter President Trump hailed Thursday as “a great day for civilization.”
Friday morning however journalists from the Associated Press reported continued fighting. Shelling and visible smoke were reported in the Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn, while calm appeared to remain elsewhere. It's been said that Turkey may see the cease-fire agreement as merely a pause.
Amidst the talks, officials have reportedly warned that an estimated 50 U.S. nuclear bombs are effectively being held hostage in Turkey. There are worries that removing the bombs might trigger an end to relations between the NATO allies, while leaving them would put the weapons at risk.
