clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Syria: Two killed in Idlib refugee camps fires

May 17, 2020 at 12:30 pm

Children of Syrian families, who have been forcibly displaced, are seen at a camp in Idlib, Syria on 14 February 2020 [Muhammed Said/Anadolu Agency]

At least two civilians were killed in seven fire outbreaks in the last three weeks in the tent camps at the Turkey-Syria border zone, according to a local official on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

Mohammad Hallaj, the director of Syria’s Response Coordination Group, told Anadolu Agency that the gas cylinders cause the fires and close proximity of the tents lead its quick spread.

Civilians escaping Assad regime attacks take shelter in these refugee camps.

In the village of Deir Hassan, some 20 tents were totally burned and caused material damage on Saturday evening, Hallaj said.

“The fire was extinguished by the asylum seekers’ efforts and with the support civil defense (White Helmets) in the region,” he said, adding that nobody was affected by the flares.

Turkey and Russia agreed in September 2018 to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Since then, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in attacks by the regime and Russian forces in the de-escalation zone as the cease-fire continues to be violated.

Over a million Syrians have moved near the Turkish border due to the intense attacks.

READ: Turkey will soon be forced to tackle the rebels in Idlib