“Tens of thousands of women and children out of the ICE-town”
“Fighting against ICE in the city of al-Baghuz has driven tens of thousands of women and children to the refugee camp, al-Hol in the north of Syria.”
“We are absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of that will,” says Paul Donohoe from flyktingorganisationen IRC.”
“Many are in very bad condition – over a hundred children are believed to have died in the camp since december.”
“Lastbilskaravanen running gently through the barren desert.”
“last Thursday morning arrived a further 1 500 people to the refugee camp, al-Hol, which has long balanced on the verge of breaking. The camp is now almost 70 000 people, and in anticipation of a place in a tent, forced many to sleep outdoors, omsvepta in thick blankets.”
“The vast majority of whom are women and children.”
“We are working feverishly with the urgent needs to be met,” says Paul Donohoe, on IRC, which is in place in the camp.”
” We estimate that as many can come tomorrow, and the day after.”
“The kurdiskarabiska SDF-alliance’s offensive against the member IS, who are besieging a small area in the town of al-Baghuz, has been going on for several weeks. The fighting has taken longer than the US-backed forces first thought, due to the unexpectedly large amounts of women and children has exited from the area during the stundvisa cease-fire.”
“The people who are transferred to al-Hol, civilians are iraqis and syrians who have lived under IS control, but also the wives and children of IS-followers. Almost all are in poor condition, ” says Paul Donohoe – badly dressed, undernourished and dehydrated.”
“– These people have lacked access to health care during a long period of time. It makes the conditions as under ordinary circumstances it is easy to cure, such as acute diarrhea, it is liable to develop into life-threatening condition.”
“the Camp is poorly equipped to meet the needs, not least maternal health. Many women who arrive to the camp is heavily pregnant or has just given birth to a child, and the conditions that nurture any complications during childbirth is bad.”
“– Several women have förlösts on the trucks during the journey here, ” says Paul Donohoe.”
“The 12 hours long journey from al-Baghuz to the al-Hol, on board the SDF-alliance trucks, is difficult for the weakest. Most acutely affected are the children. Around 120 people have died in the al-Hol or during the voyage there since the beginning of december, according to the IRC; over one hundred of them were children.”
“Children die mostly from malnutrition and hypothermia, therefore, serious cooling, according to the world health organization (WHO).”
” We estimate that about a third of these children are under one year. We are talking about small children, babies. The most vulnerable, ” says Paul Donohoe.”
“The kurdiskarabiska Syrian democratic forces (SDF) led by the kurdish YPG militia, backed by the US-led international coalition against IS.”
“In the weeks they’ve been fighting against the member IS, who are besieging a small pocket in the town of al-Baghuz next to the river Euphrates, which flows through Syria and Iraq. The area represents IS the last territory in Syria. Member has previously controlled an area as large as the united kingdom, which they called their ”
“On 12 march, claimed a spokesperson for the SDF militia”
“Among the women and children brought from al-Baghuz are european citizens. They are held in a separate part of the al-Hol camp, according to the IRC.”