Kurdish Red Crescent reveals humanitarian catastrophe in Swedia after 121 days of siege

The Kurdish Red Crescent held a press conference today at its headquarters in Qamishlo, with the participation of several media outlets operating in North and East Syria, to highlight the deteriorating humanitarian conditions faced by the people of Swedia and the difficulty of delivering aid after more than 121 days of siege.

During the conference, the Kurdish Red Crescent presented documented testimonies from residents of Swedia who spoke about the violations they suffered following the attack launched by the Syrian Interim Government forces. They indicated that the massacres committed by the government were based on ethnic grounds, in addition to the destruction of hospitals, homes, and places of worship.

The testimonies also addressed the humanitarian and living difficulties faced by the residents under the suffocating siege imposed on the city of Swedia, which has led to a severe shortage of basic necessities and prevented the delivery of humanitarian aid.

During the conference, the co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent, Dilkesh Issa, addressed the catastrophic humanitarian and living conditions in   Swedia city and stressed the urgent need to deliver aid there. He said, "Wherever we are asked to provide aid within Syria, we will fulfill our responsibilities towards serving humanity."

Issa highlighted the practices that took place in Swedia at the beginning of July 2025, explaining that large numbers of civilians were displaced from their homes and that approximately 36 villages northwest of Swedia were attacked. He emphasized, "We tried to deliver aid urgently to the displaced, but we faced significant difficulties in doing so."

Issa explained that the Kurdish Red Crescent began establishing coordination channels from the very first days of the attacks on Swedia to secure aid. He noted that civilians, especially women and children, were the most affected by the attacks.

Issa clarified, "After the fighting subsided, we contacted civil society organizations in Swedia and submitted requests to all UN agencies to find a mechanism for delivering aid."

Issa indicated that they launched an aid campaign in areas of North and East Syria in coordination with civil society organizations and the Autonomous Administration. He explained that many of the displaced were living in dire health conditions, particularly cancer patients, some of whom lost their lives due to the lack of medication. He said, "We were able to deliver financial aid in coordination with organizations there, and it has already reached those in need."

Issa highlighted the Kurdish Red Crescent's efforts in transferring its expertise to civil society organizations in Swedia, emphasizing the growing cooperation with the Sanad Organization within a humanitarian framework aimed at serving the local population.

He noted that the internet outage and the lack of direct communication channels posed an additional obstacle for them, and said: "We tried to bring in aid in the form of medicines and food through the Red Crescent, but that did not work, and even the Arab Red Crescent was unable to bring in any kind of aid."

Difficulties in Bringing in Food and Fuel

Regarding the current situation, Issa revealed that the region is under a loose siege, explaining that while the roads are not completely closed, they operate as if the goods are passing between two countries. He noted significant difficulties in bringing in food and fuel, and that goods brought in by traders are prohibitively expensive.

Issa pointed out that UN agencies are able to deliver some aid through the Arab Red Crescent, but it is very limited and does not meet the needs of bakeries, which are suffering from a severe flour shortage.

For her part, Hadiya Abdullah, co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent, said that the tragedies witnessed in Swedia during the recent events "deeply pained us," emphasizing that they have made great efforts to alleviate the suffering of the residents and deliver aid to them despite the considerable difficulties.

Hadiya Abdullah explained: "We faced many obstacles before we were able to deliver aid. The Kurdish Red Crescent initially focused on supporting farmers who were suffering from a tight siege that prevented any goods from entering the city. The goal was to secure their basic needs for fuel to irrigate their lands, because the vegetables they would grow are the only available food source for the region."

Securing Medication for Cancer Patients Faces Significant Difficulties

Hadiya Abdullah noted that the Red Crescent provided fuel for ambulances due to the presence of wounded and victims during the attacks, facilitating their access to medical facilities and saving their lives. She added that the organization supported 10 families living in dire circumstances with financial assistance and distributed 3,000 food baskets recently.

She addressed the extremely critical health situation faced by cancer patients in Swedia, pointing out that many patients have lost access to treatment after hospitals were rendered inoperable.

Hadiya Abdullah explained that the Amal Cancer Center serves approximately 1,500 cancer patients, noting that many patients face significant difficulties in obtaining medications and treatment doses due to their inability to travel and the challenges of bringing medications into the region.

The Kurdish Red Crescent has managed, with considerable difficulty, to provide doses for cancer patients, in addition to covering the costs of diagnostic tests such as CT scans and MRIs.

Supporting Four Shelters

Hadiya Abdullah noted that the Red Crescent supports four shelters within Swedia, in addition to operating four humanitarian kitchens, each with a production capacity of up to 1,000 meals.

Regarding their efforts to secure water, Hadiya stated that the Red Crescent, in cooperation with the Sanad Association, implemented a solar-powered well project, installing 300 panels, which covers approximately 25% of the city's water needs. She affirmed their determination to continue these projects should the fuel crisis persist.

Hadiya Abdullah pointed out that the Kurdish Red Crescent collaborates with the local community in Suwayda, including humanitarian organizations and medical councils. She said, "Approximately 510 medical personnel have not received their salaries, prompting the Red Crescent to provide them with financial incentives to ensure their continued performance of their humanitarian duties."

The co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent expressed her hope that security and stability would return to the city of Swedia, enabling its residents to return to their homes and resume their normal lives.

ANHA