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ISIL continues to wreak havoc in Syria’s Deir Az Zor

Pockets of ISIL fighters continue to place mines and IEDs in Deir Az Zor province, and civilians are paying the price.

SDF soldier on the DShK on the frontline in the village of Bahara. According to some, al-Baghdadi could be there, but the leader of the Islamic State could have fled before the siege of Hajin and foun
According to some locals and soldiers, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could be there, but the leader of ISIL could have fled before the siege of Hajin and found shelter along with some loyalists in the desert near Iraq [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
By Linda Dorigo
Published On 14 Nov 2018

Deir Az Zor, Syria – A military operation by a United States-backed Kurdish coalition against the last pockets of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, in northeast Syria seems far from ending soon.

The ISIL is successfully absorbing the attacks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish as well as Arab and Assyrian militias.

Since the start of the SDF offensive in the northeastern province of Deir Az Zor on May 10, ISIL fighters have been blending in with the civilian population, making identifying the group’s members difficult, according to an SDF commander.

Despite the fact that ISIL seems doomed militarily, it has powerful sleeper cells who help it to forestall the coalition movements by strewing mines everywhere; in trees, on roads, in fridges, inside toys, and under blankets.

Civilians in the area are paying the highest price. There are more than 255,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP) from Deir Az Zor city, living outside the area, under control of the Syrian army. 

According to the United Nations, 800,000 civilians have returned to their villages in 2017, risking their lives because of mines and IEDs, while others choose to stay in makeshift homes, often with no food, medical care and humanitarian assistance.

The Doctors Without Borders’ hospital in Kurdish-controlled al-Hasaka, 185km north of Deir Az Zor, receives an average of one patient per day with injuries caused by landmines and IEDs. Most of the injured come from Deir Az Zor and more than half are children.

SDF sniper on the frontline of Bahara. The final battle against Isis in north-east is fought between the villages of Hajin and Abu Kamal. September 2018
The final battle against ISIL in the northeast is fought between the villages of Hajin and Al Bukamal [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
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A building under observation along the frontline in Bahara. September 2018
A building under observation along the front line in Bahara [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
SDF soldier patrolling the frontline in the village of Bahara. In Deir ez-Zor province the advance against ISIS has followed two ways: to the west of Deir ez-Zor city with the regime supported by Russ
In Deir Az Zor, the advance against ISIL has followed two paths - to the west of the city with the government army supported by Russians and to the east with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by the US-led coalition [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
200 families live in the camp of Bahara. The hygienic conditions are very poor. In the picture the blue curtain is the communal toilet. September 2018
Nearly 200 families live in the camp of Bahara in Deir Az Zor, where hygiene conditions are very poor; the blue curtain (pictured) shields a communal toilet [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Children in the makeshift camp of Bahara. The lack of humanitarian aid has repercussions on the food availability. The diet of IDPs is lacking the nutrients necessary for daily needs and for the growt
Children in the makeshift camp of Bahara; the lack of humanitarian aid has repercussions on the food availability; the diet of Internally Displaced People (IDP) is lacking the nutrients necessary for daily needs and for the growth of children [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Under a tent in the desert IDPs from Hajin wait to be identified by SDF intelligence security to enter the temporary camp of Hajin. September 2018
Under a tent in the desert, people displaced from Hajin wait to be identified by the SDF's intelligence wing to be allowed to enter a temporary IDP camp [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
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The living conditions in the Hajin camp are hard. Mohammed, the manager is frightened by the growing number of IDPs to whom he can not offer a dignified shelter: "The war is close to inhabited areas,
The living conditions in the Hajin camp are difficult; 'The war is close to inhabited areas, if the influx will continue we will need thousands of tents,' says Mohammed, who is managing the camp as he fears the number of IDP is growing too fast to offer them dignified shelter [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
The nephew of Subiha is in need of medical care. In the camp of Hajin there are no doctors and ambulances. September 2018
Subiha's nephew is in need of medical care; in the camp of Hajin, there are no doctors or ambulances [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
With the ongoing war, hundreds of thousands from Deir ez-Zor province have been displaced more than two or three times, and a large number still live in the camps of Abu Khashab, Harisha and al-Hol, o
With the ongoing war, hundreds of thousands from Deir Az Zor city have been displaced more than two or three times and many still live in the camps of Abu Khashab, Harisha and al-Hol, or in informal settlements without assistance [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
"Here in Harijieh we live as shit - Nassar says -. The man cleans the oil cisterns to support the family. "The organizations came twice and brought toothpaste and soap for the laundry. But we need foo
'Here in Harijieh life is very bad,' says Nassar, a resident who cleans the oil cisterns to support the family; 'NGOs came twice and brought toothpaste and soap for the laundry... but we need food, medicine, running water, electricity' [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
A classroom converted into an apartment in the abandoned school of Harijieh. The diet of IDPs is mainly based on bread and tea. September 2018
A classroom converted into an apartment in the abandoned school of Harijieh; the diet of IDP is mainly bread and tea [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
A man prays on the ground floor of the abandoned school of Harijieh, 80 km North from Hajin. Hundred people from Deir ez-Zor found home in the empty rooms of the building. September 2018
A man prays on the ground floor of the abandoned school of Harijieh, 80km north of Hajin; 100 people from Deir Az Zor found home in the empty rooms of the building [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]
Dry aubergines for the winter. Food is often donated to the IDPs of Harijieh by the soldiers of a nearby military base. September 2018
Dry aubergines for the winter; food is often donated to the IDP in Harijieh by the SDF soldiers from a nearby military base [Linda Dorigo/Al Jazeera]