Refugees from Kobanê who are staying in the AFAD camp run by the Turkish authorities in Suruç are being treated like prisoners. They are unable to complain or even mention the war going on in their land and cannot go anywhere without military supervision.

The people who were forced to flee their homes in Kobanê by ISIS attacks were called “my brothers and sisters” by Prime Minister Davutoğlu when he visited the camp, but there is no sign of fraternity there. They cannot speak to each other comfortably and are even reluctant to mention the war going on at home. People staying at the camp at the old gendarme post in Aligör say they feel under constant pressure, and avoid giving their names as journalists are banned from entering the camp.

Asked what they need every month

According to those who have been in the camp for 2 months, the authorities ignore their requests. While in the camps run by the municipality there are daily visits to the tents to ascertain needs, in the state run camp the refugees are asked once a month.

Pasta and soup every day

At breakfast the refugees get butter and olives or cheese. Lentil soup and pasta constitutes the main meal every day, with chickpeas and rice being provided once every 2 or 3 weeks. The amounts of food provided are not enough for large families and there is never meat or fruit. If people want these they have to buy them themselves.

No doors or electricity in the bathrooms

The refugees say they are given tea, but nothing to make it in, and that there are no doors in the bathrooms or electricity, meaning they cannot use them after dark. They also complain that rubbish is not collected on a regular basis.

50 people in one tent

The large tents in the camp accommodate up to 7 or 8 families. In some tents there are 50 people. The families make partitions in the tents out of blankets. The people also complain the blankets are thin and that the elderly and children are cold, and that shoes they are given are insufficient or the wrong size.

Stopped from leaving the camp when there are protests

When there is a protest in the town the residents say they are banned from leaving the camp.