Syrian mother sets herself and children on fire in protest at Rukban camp conditions
A woman trapped in a remote Syrian displacement camp set herself and her children on fire yesterday in an attempted suicide that her husband said was a result of the dire living conditions and lack of food.
Rukban camp, described by those living there as a “hell on earth”, is home to nearly 60,000 civilians who are stuck in an isolated area of the Syrian desert near the Jordanian border. They are unable to cross over to Jordan, who barred entry, and aid agencies are unable to reach the settlement regularly.
Mohammed Al Sharkh, the husband of Sundus Fathallah, 28, told The National:
“We are originally from Palmyra in Homs province, and what happened to my family today is an example of desperation, poverty and famine.” He said that his wife was exhausted by the situation.
A health official in the camp told The National that Mrs Fatahallah was transferred to a hospital in Jordan.
“Sundus is in a bad condition, along with her oneyear-old baby, her other two children are doing well,” the official said.
Earlier yesterday, conflicting reports emerged that Mrs Fatahallah’s injuries were the result of a gas canister
explosion rather than an attempted suicide. But Mr Al Sharkh confirmed that his wife had tried to take her life and those of her children.
Mrs Fatahallah’s neighbours managed to put out the fire and get the woman and her children out of the tent.
The camp remains the most desperate settlement in the country and residents say the conditions, especially during the winter, are unbearable. The camp recently flooded, washing away tents and possessions and forcing some families to shelter with other residents.
Humanitarian organisations and the United Nations have had only limited access to the Rukban camp since its formation. The last time aid was delivered to the area was in November, but residents said it did not meet demand.
Water pollution, high temperatures, unsafe human waste disposal and an accumulation of rubbish have also led to major health issues. UNHCR says diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections are common in the camp.
Residents have been forced from their homes in Palymra and Homs by the war, and many fled President Bashar Al Assad’s regime and ISIS.
Last year at least 20 people died owing to a lack of food and medical services in the camp.
The camp has been protected by a US deconfliction zone established around a nearby garrison in the town of Al Tanf, where US forces operate alongside Pentagon-backed rebel groups, including the Maghawir Al Thawra battalion.
Yet the surprise announcement of a US withdrawal from Syria left many fearing attacks by government forces.
The camp’s management has urged world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May, to ensure the safety of residents by organising to have the camp relocated to rebel-held areas in northern Syria.