Heavy rains fell on Idlib province on Saturday, causing flash floods that swept away and inundated a number of tents near a seasonal waterway in camps in the Khirbet al-Jouz area, west of the province.
A SANA correspondent reported that the floods swept through camps located along seasonal waterways, prompting the urgent evacuation of those affected. Several schools and shelters were opened to accommodate families whose tents were damaged.
The Syrian Civil Defense teams, part of the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, responded to the weather conditions and took the necessary measures to mitigate the risks of the floods. These measures included clearing the waterway and evacuating residents from the affected camps in Khirbet al-Jouz to temporary shelters.
The teams also worked with the Health Directorate to evacuate patients and medical staff from Ain al-Bayda Hospital after water reached the building and flooded the ground floor. They were transferred to the cities of Jisr al-Shughur and Idlib for their safety.
Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh confirmed that Civil Defense teams are responding to the heavy rains that have fallen on Idlib Governorate, working to clear waterways and evacuate affected families.
He noted that ministry teams are monitoring field reports and responses in Idlib, Sarmada, Jisr al-Shughur, Saraqib, and the Hama countryside, urging residents to exercise caution and stay away from flood channels and areas where water accumulates to ensure their safety.
For his part, Idlib Governor Muhammad Abdul Rahman confirmed that the heavy rainfall has led to the flooding and damage of more than ten camps for displaced people in several areas. He explained that all relevant authorities have been directed to take immediate action and secure the needs of the affected residents.
He added that schools and mosques have been opened to accommodate affected families, while social affairs teams are also mobilized to provide essential supplies.
The governor indicated that the governorate is monitoring the situation on the ground around the clock, in coordination with service and humanitarian agencies, to ensure a rapid response, alleviate the suffering of those affected, and take all necessary measures to ensure their safety.
For her part, Ahlam al-Rashid, Director of Social Affairs and Labor in Idlib, announced a state of maximum alert for all staff and field teams, confirming her presence in the affected areas to immediately assess the damage and coordinate joint efforts to provide emergency response and secure the basic needs of those affected.
Al-Rashid stated, "We are following with great concern the difficult humanitarian situation faced by residents in the camps as a result of the floods," emphasizing that the directorate's teams will spare no effort in providing support and assistance, based on the principle of strengthening the spirit of solidarity and responsibility until this ordeal is overcome.
The Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate in Latakia Governorate also announced the deployment of support teams and rescue vehicles equipped with water pumps to assist the affected camps in the Khirbet al-Jouz area.
The directorate initiated a parallel response in the al-Badrousiya area of the Kasab district, by deploying additional support teams to bolster field efforts and address the repercussions of the weather conditions, affirming that field operations will continue until the damage is fully addressed and the safety of residents in the affected areas is ensured.
In a related development, Syrian Civil Defense teams worked to open drainage channels to alleviate rainwater accumulation on the Damascus-Aleppo international highway near Saraqib, facilitating traffic flow.
The teams also pumped water and cleared drainage channels to address rainwater accumulation on the southern and western corniche of Idlib city. They also opened drainage outlets at the city's entrance and dug a small trench and constructed a barrier to prevent rainwater from reaching a tent encampment in Tell Mardikh, in the Saraqib countryside.
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.