Syrians in Idlib burn clothes to stay warm

Strong winds have uprooted 50 tents, says displaced person living in border camp

As winter sets in, Syrians displaced by the ongoing civil war have no other option but to burn their clothes to stay warm in the camps.

In the northwestern province of Idlib, where most internally displaced Syrian reside, strong winds have uprooted many tents.

At night, the children get together and light bonfires using plastic, old shoes and pieces of wood.

Some people even burn clothes to stay warm in the subzero temperatures.

Adnan al Ahmed, who was forced to leave his hometown, Hama, eight years ago, said more than 50 families have lost their tents to the heavy snowfall this year.

Children had to be rescued from the toppled tents, he added.

Moreover, the roads were blocked due to bad weather and sick children could not be taken to hospital, he said.

Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.

The Idlib de-escalation zone was forged under an agreement between Turkiye and Russia. The area has been the subject of multiple cease-fire agreements, which have been frequently violated by the Assad regime and its allies.

The situation for the people in Idlib worsened when the Assad regime, backed by Russia and Iran, launched an offensive on the province, causing large-scale displacement.

Living in overcrowded tent camps or out in the open in safe areas, many are struggling to meet even their basic needs.