SUHÊR EL- IDLIBÎ

Idlib – ISIS and many other armed groups destroyed many historical places in Idlib. Forcibly displaced people have to live in these destroyed historical places due to high house rent prices. “We have to live here because we cannot afford to pay rent due to ongoing economic crisis,” said the people, who were forcibly displaced from their houses, homeland.

She lives in a destroyed historical place with her 5 children

38-year-old Saadia El-Mihemed lived in the El-Deir El-Qereqi region, south of Idlib, but she was forcibly displaced two years ago. She lives in the center of Idlib now with her family. Her husband was wounded in the foot in a bombardment and he cannot work. She has five children; the oldest one is 12 years old. “We live in this historical place because we have to. Before living here, we lived in a building having no door, window, or electricity.  The owner of the building allowed us to live there without paying any rent for a while but then he asked for 300 liras. We had to leave there because we didn’t have money. For this reason, we set up our tent in this historical place and we live here.”

“I worry about my children’s lives”

40-year-old Fatima Shaewaf was forcibly displaced from Xan Sheikhêxûn about two years ago. She told us she had four children. “Living in the historical places is better than living in the camps,” said Fatima Shaewaf, who worries about the lives of her children. “I am afraid of stones falling on my children while they are playing.”