Syrians in ex-rebel zones hit after aid groups exit

Maya Gebeily -

Tens of thousands of Syrians in areas recaptured by government troops this year remain starved of humanitarian aid, with the relief agencies helping them for years now unable to reach them.

As towns switched from opposition to government control, international aid groups were forced to halt their crucial health, food and protection services as they had no government authorisation to work.

Since April this has left vulnerable civilians in Syria’s south, Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, and rural parts of Homs province without the vital support they once relied on.

“In total, tens of thousands of people are impacted by the halt in humanitarian aid,” said Joelle Bassoul, spokeswoman for CARE International, which used to send aid into rebel-held areas.

More than seven years into Syria’s conflict, 13 million people across the country still need humanitarian assistance, says the United Nations.

Aid became politicised early on, and two separate operations developed. One, based out of Damascus, saw the UN and other agencies providing assistance solely with government authorisation.

Meanwhile, NGOs based in Turkey or Jordan helped civilians in rebel areas through a parallel system, without regime approval.

This year President Bashar al Assad brought many of those areas under government control through a string of military victories, forcing those international agencies to pull out.

“The aid that used to come from international agencies to the south completely stopped,” said Mohammad al Zoabi, 29, from Al Mseifra in southern Syria. “Now, there’s a lack of flour, medical supplies, and hospitals in general after medical points and field clinics were closed, badly affecting people,” he said.

According to the UN, 66 aid trucks entered the south from Jordan in June but zero in July when troops seized the area.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, and Save the Children all confirmed they had halted aid programmes.

“During the course of the war, as areas have changed hands to government control, the IRC has stopped providing support in those areas,” IRC country director Lorraine Bramwell said.

Jafra, a local foundation helping Syrian Palestinians, said one hospital and one school they backed in those areas had to close, pending government permission to reopen. Residents in Talbisseh, a town in Homs seized by the government in May, said medicine and food have become unavailable or unaffordable. — AFP