Health Authority in Kobani: Ongoing siege left no medicines

The Health Authority in Kobani reported that approximately two thousand people have suffered from poisoning so far as a result of the siege and the spread of diseases, amid a lack of necessary medicines to treat them and the continued interruption of medical supplies to the city.

13 February, 2026 14:45

KOBANI

The Health Authority in Kobani announced a complete depletion of medical supplies due to heavy rains and the ongoing siege imposed on the city, which has lasted for more than 25 days. This has halted the delivery of medicines and essential medical supplies.

This announcement was made in an official statement issued in front of Kobani Hospital and read by Ahmed Mahmoud; the co-chair of the Health Council in the Euphrates Canton.

The statement emphasized that the city is suffering from a severe health crisis due to the shortage of basic necessities and the lack of medicines access to various illnesses.

It explained that while some partial aid has arrived from residents of North Kurdistan and some humanitarian organizations, including the Medical Relief Society and the Red Cross, it is insufficient to meet the city's needs, especially given the increasing number of arrivals and displaced persons, and the widespread outbreak of diseases.

The statement noted that medicines have become extremely scarce, particularly those for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. There is also a complete shortage of hepatitis medications and a scarcity of surgical drugs, forcing cancer patients to seek treatment at specialized hospitals outside the city.

The statement added, "The hospitals have also recorded the admission of approximately 2,000 people due to poisoning cases resulting from water shortages and the disruption of well water supplies, with the number of cases among displaced persons rising."

The Health Authority confirmed in its statement that some medical testing equipment has also been damaged due to equipment deterioration and power outages, such as the burning of equipment inside a canning factory as a result of a power cut.

In conclusion, the Authority called for the immediate lifting of the siege on Kobani and the urgent resumption of the entry of all medicines and medical supplies to prevent the humanitarian catastrophe from being worsened.