The Erīş camp is located about 15 kilometers south of Hesekê and was built in June 2017 for refugees from Deir ez-Zor. The camp near the southern dam of Hesekê is home to 9100 people seeking protection.

Due to the heavy floods of recent weeks in northern and eastern Syria, the reservoir overflowed the banks and flooded the camp. This resulted in major property damage.

"Our situation is tragic"

Mihemed Mahmud al-Salih has been in the camp for about one and a half years. The refugee from Deir ez-Zor reports about the situation there as follows: "The situation in the camp is tragic in every respect. There is no support from the aid organizations."

Due to the flood many refugees were forced to move to less affected parts of the camp. Al-Salih reports that calls have been made to aid organizations, but no reply has been received. Many tents have been destroyed, he explains, appealing again to aid organizations to support the people in the camp.

"The situation is heartbreaking"

Reşa Meter Hamadi, mother of nine children, also comes from Deir ez-Zor. She reports that water has broken into her tent and all food is spoiled. "The distributed relief supplies are in any case not sufficient in any way. The situation is just heartbreaking, "she laments.

1200 tents damaged

Alan Ibrahim, manager of the Erīş camp, reports that the reconstruction of the camp is underway with the Regional Council. About 1200 tents were damaged by the flood. With the completion of the work, the flood victims will be moved to a new camp.

Aid organizations have not been working for three months

For three months now, support from aid agencies has stopped coming, Ibrahim stresses, explaining that the work that has just started is slow. The school lessons in the camp were interrupted and will resume in May.