The Damascus government has imposed an embargo on the Shehba canton for 3 months. While Afrin residents living in camps and ruined houses in Shehba canton are deprived of their basic needs, service institutions warned that if the embargo continued, a humanitarian disaster could occur.

The embargo imposed by the Damascus government on Shehba canton for 3 months makes the living conditions of Afrin immigrants more difficult. The Damascus government's checkpoints between Shehba and Aleppo do not allow fuel, food and basic living needs to get through.

In addition, without the approval of the Syrian Red Crescent, no serious patient is allowed to be taken to Aleppo Hospital. Due to the indifference of the Syrian Red Crescent, 2 babies and an elderly person lost their lives in July.

Shehba Fuel Committee warned that humanitarian disasters could occur if the embargo continues.

‘More than 7 million liters of fuel needed’

Ferid Yusif, a member of the Fuel Committee, said that the situation got worse due to the shortage of basic needs and added: “Winter is approaching. If fuel is not provided for the people of Afrin who are staying in the camp and in the ruined houses, we will face a humanitarian disaster. In the first place, the people of the region need more than 7 million 480 thousand liters (34 barrels) of fuel for the winter season. The population is increasing every year. We need fuel for the generators and transportation vehicles we use to provide free drinking water to the people.”

Ferid Yusif said that the government only allowed 20 tankers to enter the region in two months. "This amount is very small and not enough to meet the needs of the people. The government has recently refused to allow traders working in areas under its control to bring food, medical supplies and fuel into the canton."

Yûsif called on international organizations to lift the embargo imposed on Shehba canton in order to deliver basic needs such as medicine, fuel and food to the region.