Residents complain of declining services in Kobani

Four months after Kobani Municipality was integrated into Aleppo Governorate, the city's deteriorating public services continue to frustrate residents, who say promises to improve services have yet to translate into tangible changes, with roads, sanitation and sewage services remaining in poor condition.

Resident Abdullah Keno said the city has experienced a clear decline in service standards compared with last year. Roads are riddled with potholes, drinking water shortages persist, and electricity outages continue, increasing hardship for residents, particularly during the summer.

He added that the municipality had carried out annual insecticide spraying campaigns in previous years, but these have not been conducted this year. He also said the decision to stop accepting old Syrian banknotes before providing suitable exchange arrangements had created an additional burden for residents.

Keno noted that potholes across the city's roads frequently damage vehicles, while limited job opportunities and the absence of productive projects have further strained residents' livelihoods amid difficult economic conditions.

He also pointed to the growing accumulation of rubbish in the streets, warning that it poses a threat to public health and could contribute to the spread of diseases, including leishmaniasis, at a time when health centres are already facing shortages of medicines and treatments.

Keno expressed hope that services in Kobani would improve and called on the municipality and its administration to address the city's deteriorating living conditions.

For her part, Kobani Municipality Co-Chair Almaz Roumi acknowledged a decline in some public services, saying the municipality is monitoring residents' complaints and working to address problems within its limited capabilities.

She explained that the municipality normally carries out road maintenance and pothole repairs during this period each year. However, following its integration into Aleppo Governorate around four months ago, previously planned projects had to be resubmitted, while no financial support has yet been received from the relevant authorities.

Roumi added that the road rehabilitation project was among those proposed under plans to support the cities of Rojava after the integration process. The municipality has completed technical studies, cost estimates and coordination with contractors, but implementation remains suspended until a budget is allocated. She confirmed that there are currently no plans to pave city streets.

On sanitation, she said the municipality faces several challenges, including a shortage of sanitation workers, the loss of a rubbish collection truck after it caught fire due to age and heavy use, and the long distance to the main landfill in the village of Bil Wiran. These factors have contributed to the recent accumulation of waste, although the municipality is working to find solutions.

She also said the municipality would intensify field inspections to curb the occupation of pavements and roads and the unregulated sale of fuel, in order to protect public safety and preserve the city's appearance.

Roumi called on residents to cooperate with sanitation teams and avoid disposing of rubbish outside designated containers. She stressed that the municipality would continue working to improve public services as soon as the necessary financial support becomes available to meet the needs of the city's residents.

ANHA