Syrians who fled to a town in northern Aleppo face a daunting winter, after sky-high rents and overcrowded refugee camps force many to seek shelter in the ruins of destroyed and abandoned buildings.
Al-Bab, a rebel-controlled town in the north of Aleppo province, is home to thousands of displaced Syrians who fled battles against Islamic State in Deir al Zor, Raqqa and other areas.
The UNHCR report there are 6.3 million internally displaced people across Syria. Nearly half a million Syrians have returned to their homes so far this year, including 440,000 internally displaced people and more than 31,000 returning from neighboring countries, the UN refugee agency said in June.
Al-Bab was taken by Free Syrian Army in fighting that lasted weeks in January and February, costing many lives as Turkish jets and armor pummeled Islamic State positions in the town and FSA groups tried to capture ground.
Many say they can't afford to pay rent for apartments, which have shot up from $50 a month before the conflict to over $200 a month.
“Homes in Al-Bab are more expensive than homes in Paris, rent is now more than $200 or $300. We found these damaged stores that were targeted by the regime, so we decided to stay here along with 30 or 40 other families,” said Abu Khaled, a displaced man from Albou Kamal.
More than 7,000 people have resorted to living in abandoned homes and destroyed markets. Some have been there for a few weeks, others months, with no end in sight.
They say they have not received any aid from NGOs or the United Nations, adding that they are facing food, medicine and clothes shortages.
REUTERS
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