Displaced families escaping Islamic State in Raqqa find little help in unofficial border camp

Record ID: 896269

  • Title: Displaced families escaping Islamic State in Raqqa find little help in unofficial border camp
  • Date: 20th June 2017
  • Summary: SHAMARIN, NEAR BAB AL SALAMA BORDER CROSSING, SYRIA (JUNE 19, 2017) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE DRIVING IN VEHICLES VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE ON TRUCK VARIOUS OF TRUCKS WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS LOADED ON TO BACK CHILDREN BY TRUCK VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE'S TENTS NEAR TURKISH BORDER VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PERSON FROM RAQQA, FOUAD MOSTAFA, WITH HIS CHILDREN SITTING NEAR TENT MOSTAFA ENTERING TENT MOSTAFA SITTING WITH HIS CHILDREN IN TENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PERSON FROM RAQQA, FOUAD MOSTAFA, SAYING: "We left Raqqa after shelling and airstrikes, it took one month to get here from Raqqa, it is surprising it took one month to go from Raqqa to here. We paid some money to a trafficker to get us here. Here the situation is very bad. I came here with only the clothes I am wearing, I am begging to improve my situation, this tent is not for me." MOSTAFA AND CHILDREN SITTING/ HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN CORNER OF TENT MOSTAFA LEAVING TENT VARIOUS OF TENTS/SHELTERS VARIOUS OF MAHMOUD AL-AHMAD, A DISPLACED PERSON FROM RAQQA, SITTING IN HIS TENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PERSON FROM RAQQA, MAHMOUD AL-AHMAD, SAYING: "We left Raqqa because of the shelling and the bad situation there. It was very bad. We paid a big amount, about 700,000 (Syrian pounds) to leave this terrible place. And thank God we left and we came here. We hoped it would be better but the situation is also bad here and we also need help. We need help from charities." VARIOUS OF AL-AHMAD WITH HIS FAMILY AL-AHMAD'S WIFE PREPARING FOOD AL-AHMAD'S FAMILY LEAVING TENT CLOTHES HANGING ON LINE VARIOUS OF TENTS
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2017 14:39
  • Keywords: Free Syrian Army displaced Aleppo FSA Raqqa
  • Location: SHAMARIN, NEAR BAB AL SALAMA BORDER CROSSING, SYRIA
  • City: SHAMARIN, NEAR BAB AL SALAMA BORDER CROSSING, SYRIA
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016M31VF9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Syrian families described harsh living conditions and asked for aid after fleeing fighting in Raqqa.
    Speaking from a makeshift camp near the Bab Al Salama crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in northern Syria, the displaced said they left Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa after shelling.
    The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of Kurdish and Arab militias supported by a U.S.-led coalition, began to attack Raqqa earlier in June with the aim of taking it from Islamic State militants, after a months-long campaign to cut it off.
    An estimated 250 displaced families - approximately 1,800 people - are thought to be living in the makeshift camp in the village of Shamarin.
    Speaking from his tent with his two children beside him, Fouad Mostafa said it took a month for him to reach the village after paying a trafficker.
    He said he arrived with only the clothes on his back.
    Mahmoud Al-Ahmad said he paid 700,000 Syrian pounds for him and his family to leave Raqqa. But he said their situation was "bad" and that they needed help.
    With little support from charities and supplies running low, the families wait in the hope that aid will come.
    Since the offensive began the SDF, supported by heavy coalition air strikes, have taken territory to the west, east and north of the city these families used to call their home.
    The fighting has caused large numbers of people to flee the city and surrounding areas.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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