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UN says at least one child died in snowstorm in northern Syria

January 21, 2022 at 12:43 am

Snowfall in refugee camp in Azaz district of Aleppo, Syria make life difficult for the refugees on January 18, 2022. Syrian refugees are struggling against the weather conditions [Ömer Alven – Anadolu Agency]

At least one child was killed in northern Syria, this week, when a storm blanketed tented camps in snow and brought freezing temperatures, Reuters reported.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Thursday, the child has died and its mother was in intensive care after snow caused their tent to collapse in the Qastal Miqdad area, as a result of the storm that struck on 18 January.

The statement noted that two children were hospitalised due to the cold.

“It is extremely cold and the children were crying … I didn’t sleep until 8 am. I was afraid that the tent would fall down on me and the children,” said Abu Anas, a refugee in Zaitoun camp in northern Syria.

READ: Snowfall brings down tents in northern Syria, leaving refugees out in the cold

“It is a miserable situation. No heating, a tent that is not suitable even for animals. Our situation is bad,” he said after Storm Hiba struck.

The United Nations, which warned about flooding once the snow started to melt, said 362 tents had been damaged in the region as of 19 January, and more than 400 families had been affected.

The United Nations noted that some families had been evacuated from a camp in northern Syria in the most affected areas.