Baladi News – Daraa (Huzaifa Halawa)
After five years of war by the Syrian regime against its own people, it has become apparent that civilians, whose circumstances are still worsening, are the biggest losers.
Areas of conflict expanded and bombardments increased after the regime brought in Iranian militias as well as Russian forces to end the Syrian revolution. To make things worse, IS organization intervened in the military clashes in the southern parts of Syria in particular. In the past, battles were limited to the regime forces, but now, the rebels of Daraa have to fight on two fronts; against the regime forces on the one hand, and against the factions that gave pledge of allegiance to IS on the other.
Ordinary Syrian citizens in the liberated areas have other types of sufferings. Economic situations deteriorated due to lack of job opportunities, rocketing prices, and dramatic decrease in the value of the Syrian pound to foreign currencies.
After losing her husband in a battle against the Syrian regime forces in Daraa, Om Yousef became the only bread winner of her three children. Along with them, she had to leave her house in Nafa’a town because of battles between the rebels and “Khalid ibn al-Walid Army” militia accused of affiliation with IS.
Om Yousef Said to Baladi News, “Our circumstances last Ramadan were better. We used to receive aid from various bodies as well as our relatives, which helped in mitigating our sufferings after losing my husband.”
“In this Ramadan, it became much worse. I do not have the ability to work and pay the house rent. So, I had to leave the house with my children and stay with my relatives who fled to Saham al-Jawlan”, On Yousef added.
Highlighting the increased prices during current Ramadan, Om Yousef Said, “the increased prices deprived us of any pleasure during Ramadan as we are unable to buy anything. We only rely on little aid from our relatives as well as some charities.”
Food is not the only source of concern for Om Yousef. The family needs medicine, apparel, domestic gas, firewood, water, and other things that require money to provide. The speaker indicated that she had no money to cover such needs, but hospitals and medical points in the area made some medicines obtainable for the family.
Poor utilities in the liberated areas are other troubles for civilians. Domestic water system is out of order, which forces them to resort to paid water tankers in obtaining water, which constitutes an additional financial burden on the families.
The family of Om Yousef is one of thousands households that lost their breadwinners. Such families totally depend on food baskets as well as shy aid from organizations supported by few donors and countries.