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Transcript/ScriptSYRIA SUICIDE
HEADLINE: Deadly Despair: Increased Suicide Rates in Northwestern Syria
TEASER: Aid workers say deep poverty and harsh living conditions lead to hopelessness among Idlib’s youth
PUBLISHED AT: 07/26/2022, 7:41p
BYLINE: Mouneb Taim, Heather Murdock
DATELINE: IDLIB, Syria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mouneb Taim, Moawia Atrash, Mohammad Daboul, Heather Murdock
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS,sv
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:37
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO: Isolated, poverty-stricken and war-torn Idlib is called Syria’s “last remaining rebel stronghold,” but most people there rely on emergency aid to stay alive. Locals say despair has become endemic in northwestern Syria, with increasing numbers of young people taking their own lives. For VOA, Mouneb Taim has this report from Idlib with Heather Murdock in Istanbul.
((NARRATOR:))
More than two years ago, in the last months of a nearly yearlong offensive on Idlib province, almost a million people fled their homes in the largest mass exodus of the Syrian War.
Former rebel fighter Salim al-Anjoki [[ al-an-JUKEE]] was among the displaced after his city was taken by Syrian government forces. Along with his wife and eight children, he eventually found a place in this crowded camp, closer to Idlib city.
The next year, he lost his eldest son.
((Salim al-Anjoki, Displaced Father)) ((Male, Arabic))
“My son committed suicide. Mohammed Salim Anjoki was 17 years old. When we were displaced to this camp, he had psychological problems. He could not accept this situation.”
((NARRATOR:))
Despite growing up in a war zone, Mohammed studied in school and learned to fix cars to help feed his family. In the camp, he had to drop out of school and work was scarce. His father says he felt he had no future.
Doctors say suicide among youth in Idlib is becoming increasingly common.
((Dr. Ahmed al-Othman, Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations))
“Suicide has increased in Syria over the last ten years, but it has been especially prevalent during the past two years, where we have noticed an increase in cases.”
(((NARRATOR:))
Statistics are shaky at best in northwestern Syria, but aid group Syria Response Coordinator Team says it has counted 33 suicide attempts as of June 5th in Idlib, which is nearly 40 percent more than the entirety of 2021.
Mental health experts say the cause of suicide is often rooted in the deep poverty and isolation that is widespread in Idlib.
((Zilal al-Asaad, Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations)) ((Female, Arabic))
“People do not have the resources to adapt to the massive costs of living and high rents. This is an important factor in the problem.”
((NARRATOR:))
She says harsh conditions have also led to an increase in psychological problems such as depression, in addition to domestic violence and drug use.
Al-Anjoki says the pain of the loss of his son has not gotten better with time.
((Salim al-Anjoki, Displaced Father)) ((Male, Arabic))
“My younger son says he imagines playing with his brother and hearing him say, ‘Where are you hiding?’ My wife holds his clothes and cries for him while I, even now, can’t accept that he died.”
((NARRATOR:))
He says conditions have not gotten easier since Mohammed died. Idlib is now considered “the last rebel stronghold” and is sporadically attacked, as it continues to sink deeper into abject poverty.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)IDLIB, Syria
Embargo DateJuly 26, 2022 15:55 EDT
Byline((FOR MOUNEB TAIM, IN IDLIB, SYRIA,
HEATHER MURDOCK, VOA NEWS))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
