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Coronavirus fears push displaced Syrians to return to hot spots

By Waleed Abu al-Khair in Cairo and AFP

A Syrian IDP who decided to return to his hometown in southern rural Idlib to escape the congestion in IDP camps and serious threat of infection from the coronavirus pandemic. [Photo courtesy of Idlib Plus]

A Syrian IDP who decided to return to his hometown in southern rural Idlib to escape the congestion in IDP camps and serious threat of infection from the coronavirus pandemic. [Photo courtesy of Idlib Plus]

Hundreds of displaced Syrians packed in camps near the border with Turkey are returning to their villages in southern Idlib and western Aleppo out of fear of contracting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), local activists and residents say.

Hassan Khraiby, 45, decided returning to his home in Ariha, in southern Idlib province, was better than risking his 10 children catch the coronavirus in a packed displacement camp.

"We were scared the coronavirus might spread because of the severe overcrowding," he told AFP.

So, like others, "we decided to come home -- even if our homes have been destroyed".

Syrian Civil Defence workers install a tent in a new IDP camp set up to ease the congestion in the main camps, as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. [Photo courtesy of Syrian Civil Defence]

Syrian Civil Defence workers install a tent in a new IDP camp set up to ease the congestion in the main camps, as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. [Photo courtesy of Syrian Civil Defence]

Syrian Civil Defence workers fill potholes caused by Syrian regime missiles on a main road in southern rural Idlib to facilitate the return of IDPs to the area. [Photo courtesy of Syrian Civil Defence]

Syrian Civil Defence workers fill potholes caused by Syrian regime missiles on a main road in southern rural Idlib to facilitate the return of IDPs to the area. [Photo courtesy of Syrian Civil Defence]

No case of the COVID-19 illness has yet been recorded in north-west Syria, but aid organisations fear any outbreak in the last major opposition bastion of Idlib would be catastrophic.

They warn the virus could rage through jam-packed internally displaced persons' (IDP) camps, where maintaining basic hygiene is difficult and social distancing near impossible.

Khraiby and his family were among nearly one million to flee their homes during a deadly Moscow-backed Syrian regime offensive against the opposition stronghold from December -- the largest such wave of displacement in Syria's nine-year-old war.

Now, just a few weeks into a fragile truce that took effect as the virus outbreak was turning into a pandemic, they are among hundreds to have returned to Ariha, some to stay.

Returnees facing 'serious difficulties'

"Southern rural Idlib and western rural Aleppo areas are witnessing an unusual influx of IDPs despite the fact that their villages are located close to positions held by Syrian regime forces and their allies and are dangerous hotspots," Idlib activist Musab Assaf told Diyaruna.

"The relative calm brought on by the halt in military operations induced civilians to return, as most of them see the risk of staying in the congested camps to be greater than the risk of dying from the airstrikes and shelling by Syrian regime and Russian forces," he said.

However, these areas are totally inhabitable due to the massive destruction inflicted on them, he said.

To aid the IDPs' return, the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets) are repairing the roads damaged in the bombardment and removing the rubble in partially-destroyed areas, Assaf said.

About 10% of the area's IDPs have left the camps, he said, adding that new camps are being set up to alleviate the congestion for those who remain.

"The returnees are facing serious difficulties, not the least of which is the destruction of water, electricity and sanitation infrastructure," Assaf said.

"Most shops also are closed because they were either destroyed or their owners fled, which makes obtaining basic necessities and even medical necessities very difficult for them," he added.

When the ceasefire came into effect on March 6th in the wider extremist-dominated region, weary residents were deeply skeptical it would last.

But it has so far, as Damascus grapples to contain a rising COVID-19 tally of at least 29 cases, including two deaths.

"Because of the coronavirus, the regime and Russia are too busy for us," Khraiby said. "I hope they will be too busy for us for a long time."

'Scared to come back'

Nearby, Rami Abu Raed, 32, also believes the regime would have resumed military operations had it not been for the virus, and says the attacks will eventually restart.

The father of three returned to Ariha last week, fearing his children would contract the novel coronavirus in the camps further north.

"The north has now become so crowded. People are living on top of each other," he said. "I was scared for my children so I decided to return to Ariha."

Not far off, a few small trucks drive back into town, the odd mattress stacked in the back.

In one damaged building, workers lay cement cinder blocks in a gaping hole in a wall.

On the rubble of another, men swing sledgehammers at what remains of a collapsed top floor.

Yahya, 34, said he returned to help people rebuild their homes but is reluctant to bring back his wife and three children, or any of their furniture.

"People are scared to come back," he said, standing inside his small workshop, supplies hanging along the wall.

"At any time, the regime could break the truce, start advancing or bombarding us again."

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