Turkish aid bodies line up to help flood-hit Syrians

By Burak Karacaoglu and Esref Musa

IDLIB, Syria

Turkish aid organizations lined up to lend a helping hand to refugees after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding and destroyed tents at 11 camps in rural areas of northern Syria.

Kadir Akgunduz, the Turkish Red Crescent's Syria field coordinator, told Anadolu Agency that they had begun preparations in coordination with the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) soon after they learned about the flood in Syria's Idlib.

Akgunduz said the first batch of aid include blankets, beds, canned foods and tents which were sent from nearby Turkish provinces of Gaziantep and Hatay.

Selim Tosun, Humanitarian Relief Foundation’s (IHH) media advisor in Syria, told Anadolu Agency that they sent immediate needs such as blankets, winter clothes, boots and tents.

"However, there are so many victims, for this reason we expect our donor's support," Tosun said, adding that they had only 800 tents which they were planning to pitch in areas not affected by flooding.

Ismail Yigit, the Regional Manager of Turkey Diyanet Foundation (TDV) said more than 5,000 families were affected by the heavy flooding.

"We are setting up our tents to meet the needs of 150 families in our rain resistant camps and we continue to distribute blanket, stove, tent and fuel to victims," Yigit said.

According to information compiled by Anadolu Agency correspondents in Syria, the flood has left an estimated 25,000 refugees searching for shelter at other camps.

No casualties have yet been reported as a result of the flooding, but numerous heads of livestock have reportedly perished.

Requests for emergency assistance have so far been received from the Atme, Qah, Omar and Khirbat al-Jawz refugee camps in the northwestern Latakia province.