Climate change makes life harder for displaced Syrians
The extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have been particularly felt by the displaced living in camps across northwestern Syria, where NGOs are struggling to meet all of their needs.
IDLIB, Syria — Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is no longer a time to rejoice in war-torn Syria. As the conflict entered its 12th year, the bombing and flow of displacement have not been the only reason why there is no more joy during the Eid al-Fitr holidays. The unusual storms and extremely heavy rains in May razed the tents in the camps for the internally displaced people in northwestern Syria, causing them more hardship.
Climate change has been especially felt in Syria, causing a growing delay in the onset of winter rains and severe weather depressions up until the start of the summer months. The extreme heat that prevailed in late April was followed by temperature drops of more than 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in just two days, before it went up again.
While the end of the cold weather has been a blessing for the displaced, the rise in temperatures is another cause of distress. International and local organizations have repeatedly warned against the consequences of the unusual extreme weather conditions that have hit the displaced in Syria.
Life in the camps has become more like a “horror movie,” said Khaled al-Hussein, 29, who has been living in Jabal al-Sheikh Bahr camp, in the northern countryside of Idlib, since he fled his village south of Idlib 2½ years ago.
