Ramadan in Syrian Camps: Displaced Families Struggle Amid Hunger and Water Shortages
With humanitarian aid halted, displaced Syrians in northwest camps face extreme poverty, food scarcity, and worsening water shortages as Ramadan begins.
Watan-As Ramadan begins in the displacement camps of northwestern Syria, displaced families endure severe hardship marked by rising poverty, unemployment, and the suspension of humanitarian aid and water support. Despite these overwhelming challenges, they demonstrate resilience and solidarity, even as economic hardship looms over their daily lives.
Abu Ahmed Khaled Darwish, director of Al-Sabah Camp in rural Idlib, described the absence of Ramadan traditions, as displaced families can no longer afford to decorate their homes or light Ramadan lanterns due to worsening economic conditions.
An estimated 2.8 million displaced people reside in northwestern Syria, with 1.7 million living in 1,400 camps, 80% of whom are women and children.
Daily Struggles for Food
For Salma Umm Al-Nour, a 30-year-old mother of four, Ramadan meals are a daily challenge despite her husband’s work with a humanitarian organization. Preparing a simple meal, she explained:
“I spend around 150 Turkish liras (approximately $5) each day on a basic meal of potato and tomato soup. Even so, I share a portion with my neighbor Sara, a widow with two children.”
Despite her relative stability, she is deeply aware of others’ suffering:”My friend from Qalaat Al-Madiq is raising two orphaned children, yet no one will lend her money because she cannot repay it. My other neighbor had only olive oil and thyme to feed her family last night.”
While food remains available in nearby markets, the lack of jobs and money makes affording it impossible for many. “The camel is worth a lira, but there is no lira to buy it,” she says, quoting a local proverb.
Fading Ramadan Traditions
Before Maghrib prayer, Shaimaa, 27, reminisced about past Ramadan celebrations:”Ramadan was incomplete without traditional white yogurt-based dishes like shakriya, kibbeh labaniyeh, and shish barak. Families decorated their homes, prepared elaborate iftar meals, and enjoyed a variety of dates and juices.”
Today, however, she notes:”We have no juices or dates. Our meals consist of boiled or fried potatoes, chickpeas, or beans. Yet, we hold on to hope.”
Overcrowded Camps and Humanitarian Aid Cuts
Displacement camps in rural Idlib and Aleppo, near the Syrian-Turkish border, have expanded into tent cities filled with misery. The region hosts 1,200 camps, many of them informal settlements lacking basic services and humanitarian support.
At Al-Sabah Camp, which houses 4,000 displaced people from 700 families, the situation has worsened. Darwish reports: “Humanitarian organizations have halted their operations, cutting off water supplies, waste collection, and relief aid.” The economic crisis has intensified, pushing families beyond the poverty line. “Some families can’t even afford a single meal a day. This is no longer about poverty—people here are below the line of life itself.”
Severe Water Shortages
In Al-Matar Camp, part of the Tel Al-Karama network, Zakaria Al-Hamid, 35, a displaced schoolteacher from Aziziyah village in southern Aleppo, faces similar struggles:”I earn around $120 a month—barely enough for my family, but better than nothing, especially during Ramadan.”
Despite the liberation of his village, returning home remains impossible due to widespread destruction, lack of infrastructure, and absence of essential services. “Our village once had 2,000 residents, but now fewer than 25 remain. Houses are destroyed, and services are nonexistent.”
The Cost of Returning Home Is Too High
Zakaria explains:”Rebuilding my house would cost around $15,000—an impossible amount in my situation.”
Water scarcity adds another layer of hardship:”Previously, each person received 35 liters of water per day. Now, it’s just 22 liters. Water tanks operate for only 1.5 hours daily, down from three hours.”
Despite the miserable conditions in the camp, he concludes:”We have no choice but to stay. We’ve adapted—not by choice, but by necessity.”
