(Eqtsad)- People of northern Idlib province who fled the regime’s offensive to the border city of Afrin have been facing restrictions imposed by the local authorities, displaced said.
Mohamed Nadeem, one of the displaced, who recently arrived in Afrin, said the Trinda military checkpoint, which includes elements of the Turkish army, imposes strict security restrictions on the entry of vehicles transporting IDPs from the southern countryside of Idlib, coming through Ghazawiya-Darat Azza crossing reserved for commercial purposes only.
“The checkpoint has taken new measures regarding the movement of IDPs to prevent all vehicles without license plates issued by the local authorities in the area from crossing, except for vehicles carrying a military mission document certified by one of the opposition factions operating in the Dera Euphrates and Ghosn Zeitoun areas.”
Since the beginning of northwest Syria offensive late April, regime airstrikes have killed more than 900 civilians and displaced more than 600,000.
The Russian intervention in Syria was officially announced on Sept. 30, 2015, after an official request by the Assad regime for military aid against rebel groups.
Displaced people fleeing the advance of regime and Russian forces in the southern countryside of Idlib are suffering not only from their entry into the liberated Aleppo countryside, but also from other difficulties of high transportation fees, amid months of economic hardship due to the cessation of their work and professional activities.
According to Ahmad al-Khalil, an IDP and head of a family of five, from al-Mentar village, and who arrived about a week ago with his family in Afrin area, transportation fees currently range between 30,000 to 35,000 Syrian pounds(About 65$).
"It is different for transport vehicles dedicated to the shipment of luggage and furniture of type Kia and Suzuki; as the owners demand higher amounts ranging from 45 to 70 thousand SYP, in exchange for the transportation of furniture from Idlib to Afrin.”
Al-Khalil warned that the majority of IDP families had to relocate part of their furniture with them because of their inability to purchase anything new, in addition to their fear of looting and theft operations by the regime forces after taking control of the cities and towns, or fear of being damaged and destroyed by military operations.
Ahmed al-Dhahir, displaced from the village of Kafr Ain, found it very difficult to secure a residential house for his family of 4 members in the city of Afrin. It takes a long time to search for an apartment, not to mention a monthly rent not less than 20,000 SYP with a prepaid commission of a minimum duration of 3 months. As well as additional costs of renting a house, electricity costs amounting to 1,700 SYP per ampere a week, in addition to 1,000 SYP for one meter of water every three days.
Al-Dhahir said that he was forced to go to rural villages, where his family is now staying with some of his relatives, pointing out that this residence is temporary until his economic conditions improve.
Eight years of war in Syria have killed 560,000 people and driven half the pre-war population of 22 million from their homes, including more than 6 million as refugees to neighbouring countries.
(Reporting by Khalid Mohamed)
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