Rojava refugees receive aid boost amid coronavirus pandemic

BARDARASH, Kurdistan Region — Refugees in Bardarash refugee camp have received cash aid from UNHCR in a bid to boost protection amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The campaign, which aims to reach 110,000 vulnerable families across Iraq, allocates $200 per family to help them buy essential products like personal protective equipment to stem the spread of COVID-19. 

However, camp residents fear it is not enough. 

“240,000 dinars [$200] is insufficient. If you go shopping you can spend 250,000 dinars,” said Najiya Mohammed. 

“All the money we had ran out when we came here,” said Gulistan Abdullatif. 

“Even 400,000 dinars [$330] is inadequate,” she added.

Bardarash camp was established in October 2019 to house refugees from northeast Syria, known to Kurds as Rojava, fleeing the Turkish incursion.  It is home to 6,823 people. 

Fears of the novel coronavirus reaching refugee camps have risen in recent weeks. However, camp officials maintain they have done their best to serve residents. 

“Coronavirus has affected all of humanity. There is a curfew here and it is hard for anyone to go out.  As camp management, we have done our part to better serve the refugees here,” said camp manager Bewar Karim. 

The Kurdistan Region hosts 1.4 million refugees and internally displaced persons. 

Of this number, 247,000 are from Syria.

 

Reporting by Ayub Nasri 

Video by Abdulbasit Ibrahim 

Translation by Zhelwan Z.Wali