The floods caused by the heavy rains in Afrin rendered the tents unusable for families who were victims of the civil war. The emergency relief team led by International Blue Crescent Foundation Cross-Border Programs Coordinator Nuran Kızılkan delivered 200 stoves and 600 tarpaulins to families in the region with the support of Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Those in need, who have to live in makeshift tents in harsh winter conditions, will be able to spend the winter warm thanks to this support.
Muhammad’s Story
Muhammad Al Nakeen started to explain what he has faced by saying, " You warmed not only our tent but also our hearts."
38-year-old, father of four, Mohammed was shot in the arm by a sniper while participating in opposition demonstrations in Aleppo in 2011.
Mohammad, who has been married for 9 years, has daughter who was born amid the clashes and bombings in Aleppo. "We lived through hell, we were praying that we survived, amid the clashes in the streets every day," says Mohammad.
When the city of Aleppo was evacuated in 2016, their second child, Ahmed, was only 8 months old.
"Then we settled in the countryside of Idlib," continues Mohammad, describing his experiences.
“Due to immigration, population has increased several times in Idlib. It was very difficult to find a job, to work, to feed ourselves. Then the regime forces started to hit Idlib as well. We were back to the nightmare-filled days again…”
Mohammad and his family decided to migrate to Afrin due to the attacks of the regime forces as well as the weight of their living conditions from the Idlib countryside, where they lived for 5 years.
Mohammad shared his joy by saying “When I heard about the distribution of stoves and tarpaulins, I was out to find a tarpaulin to protect the tent I had just settled in from the cold and rain as well as a blanket for warmth. Branda was too expensive, I could not afford it. When I came to buy blankets for the children, I saw you distribute tarps and stoves, I will protect my tent from the rain with this tarpaulin, and our winter will be warm with the stove. You have warmed not only our tent but also our hearts,"
