afrinpost– Exclusive
According to reports, relief workers are exploiting the earthquake disaster by stealing aid intended for those affected and selling it in markets. They are also levying a tax on iron and tin producers who have begun operating following the devastating earthquake.
Our reporter in Afrin stated that a relief delegate named “Abu Haydar” is stealing aid packages of food rations and tents provided by organizations to the residents of the camp he is responsible for and then selling them to shops in the occupied city of Afrin.
“Abu Haydar” is originally from the town of Arbeen in the countryside of Damascus and owns an “Avin” cakes store on Meqla Termanini Street. He is also a relief coordinator in a camp located in the Harsh area on the road to Terendeh village. He has stolen 400 tents and 700 food baskets from the aid provided by organizations to the residents of the camp.
The relief delegate is selling each tent with its accessories for $150, a tent without iron pieces for 500 Turkish liras, and a food basket for $30, while a cleaning basket is sold for $10.
Our reporter added that the work of blacksmiths and tin makers, especially IDPs, has been very active after the earthquake disaster due to relief delegates contracting them to make tents. Each relief delegate takes a percentage of up to $25 from the blacksmith for each tent.
The relief office affiliated with the local council in Afrin is also involved in stealing and selling humanitarian aid. Some of the employees in the office, including “Abdullah” and “Habib,” reportedly sold over a thousand tents, each costing 700 Turkish liras, to a store selling aid materials on the New Bridge Road in the occupied city of Afrin.
