2 human rights organizations issue urgent appeal to UN over siege of KobaniV

The Human Rights Organization in Syria and the Human Rights Organization in the Euphrates issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations to lift the siege on Kobani and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid following the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the deaths of children due to cold and hunger.

24 January, 2026 13:08

NEWSDESK

In an urgent statement addressed to the United Nations, the two organizations expressed deep concern over the severe humanitarian conditions in Kobani city and its countryside as a result of the siege imposed in recent days, which threatens the lives of nearly half a million civilians and exposes them to increasingly harsh living conditions.

The statement explained that “the complete cutoff of water, electricity, and fuel, alongside the lack of basic humanitarian assistance—including food, medicine, infant formula, and heating materials—has led to a sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation. The Kurdish Red Crescent also reported child fatalities due to extreme cold and lack of medical care, indicating that a large-scale humanitarian disaster is imminent if immediate intervention is not taken.”

The organizations noted that the continued siege constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law, particularly obligations related to the protection of civilians and ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and customary rules binding on all parties.

They called on the United Nations, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Committee of the Red Cross, and relevant international bodies to take immediate action, including: lifting the siege on Kobani city and its countryside immediately; opening safe humanitarian corridors to protect civilians and evacuate the most vulnerable cases; delivering urgent humanitarian aid including food, medicine, fuel, and heating materials without delay; ensuring international relief teams can access the area to assess needs and provide emergency response; and exerting pressure on all parties to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and prevent any form of collective punishment against civilians.

The statement emphasized that protecting civilians is a legal and moral responsibility of the international community and warned that any delay in intervention will exacerbate the suffering of the population and result in avoidable human losses.

It urged immediate action before the crisis turns into an uncontrollable humanitarian disaster.

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ANHA