Kobani: thirty days under siege

Factions affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government have been enforcing a full blockade on Kobani since 20 January, leading to a severe deterioration in the conditions of more than 600,000 civilians in the city and its countryside, raising serious fears of an impending humanitarian catastrophe.

Roads remain closed, while food and medical supplies are barred from entry. Hospitals are operating at minimal capacity due to shortages of medicines, particularly those for chronic illnesses and emergency cases, in addition to a sharp decline in medical supplies.

Infant formula is nearly unavailable, threatening the lives of hundreds of infants amid evident malnutrition and a lack of alternatives. The continuation of the siege is expected to increase rates of illness and malnutrition, especially among children and the elderly.

The blockade has also caused a major shortage of heating materials, compounding the suffering of residents, particularly in camps and shelters. Electricity and water services have likewise been affected due to fuel and spare-parts shortages, further worsening daily living conditions.

Residents are urgently calling for the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow the entry of food, medicine, and fuel, stressing that the continued siege constitutes a clear violation of fundamental human rights.

A-H 

ANHA