Kobani Enters Twentieth Day Under Siege Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

ANHA

One of the shelters, that appears to be a school, in Kobani, northern Syria.

The city of Kobani in Rojava (North and East Syria) has entered its twentieth day under a suffocating siege imposed by the Syrian interim government, as approximately 600,000 civilians and displaced persons face rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions. Residents are suffering from severe shortages of medicine and basic necessities, alongside a complete blackout of electricity and internet services, despite signed agreements stipulating that the siege should be lifted.

For nearly three weeks, the interim government has maintained the blockade on Kobani, severely affecting the lives of civilians and displaced people who sought refuge in the city after fleeing attacks by factions affiliated with the interim government in their home areas.

The humanitarian situation in the city has become increasingly dire. There is an acute lack of medicines, medical supplies and essential goods, while residents are also facing shortages of heating fuel amid ongoing winter conditions. The total disruption of electricity and internet services has further compounded the crisis, hindering essential services and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

This situation persists despite an agreement signed on 30 January between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government, which explicitly stipulated the lifting of the siege on Kobani. To date, however, no tangible steps have been taken to implement the agreement.

In this context, the Kobani administration issued a statement on 7 February, stating that, following an official invitation, a delegation from the Autonomous Administration of Kobani and a number of city dignitaries travelled to Aleppo on 5 February. The delegation held meetings with the Deputy Governor of Aleppo and the Commander of the Internal Security Forces in the province.

According to the statement, discussions focused on several key issues, including practical measures implemented in the Shuyukh district and procedures to be taken in the Jalabiya district to facilitate the return of displaced residents to their villages. Service-related issues were also addressed, most notably the ongoing outages of water, electricity and internet services.

The Kobani administration confirmed that, as of now, no concrete steps have been taken by the government, particularly with regard to the withdrawal of military forces from the Jalabiya area and the lifting of the siege on Kobani, despite assurances given by government representatives during the meeting.

Residents and the Kobani administration have warned of the serious humanitarian consequences of the continued siege, calling for strict adherence to the signed agreements, the immediate lifting of the blockade, and the unconditional provision of basic necessities to the city’s population.



PUKMEDIA