Social Affairs and Labor Body: aid reaching Kobani does not meet Kobani’ needs

Today, the Social Affairs and Labor Body, in coordination with the Organizations Office in the Euphrates Canton, issued a statement during a press conference held in front of the Autonomous -Administration building in the city of Kobani, with the participation of media outlets, members of the Autonomous-Administration institutions, and the Kobani City Council.

The statement, read by the co-chair of the Body, Ahmed Khoja, indicated that the city of Kobani has been under siege for 37 days by forces affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government. This siege coincided with the displacement of tens of thousands of people from Raqqa, Tabqa, and the Kobani countryside to the city center, leading to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation due to the immense pressure on services and infrastructure. The need for shelter has also increased as displaced people have taken up temporary residence in schools, kindergartens, mosques, shops, homes, playgrounds, and wedding halls.

The statement further explained that during the initial weeks of the siege, three humanitarian aid convoys were sent in coordination with the United Nations, in addition to two convoys from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. These convoys were distributed to displaced families in shelters through coordination between humanitarian organizations, the Office of Organizations Affairs, and the Social Affairs and Labor Body.

And noted that the aid was insufficient to meet the needs of the residents and displaced persons. It explained that the supplies included approximately 3,000 mattresses, 8,000 blankets, 5,754 food baskets, 2,500 hygiene kits, and 2,000 dignity kits, which were distributed in the city's fourteen districts and shelters. In addition, 37.5 tons of diesel fuel were provided, with 30 tons allocated to the water authority and 7.5 tons to health centers.

The statement also mentioned the arrival of aid from northern and southern Kurdistan, delivered through the Protection and Solidarity Platform in Amed and Channel 8 from southern Kurdistan. This aid is currently being distributed through communes using heating cards, ensuring that each cardholder receives their share. The aid also included medicines delivered to hospitals, quantities of flour for bakeries, and other food items that are currently being distributed.

It explained that preparing the food baskets required considerable time and effort, causing a delay in the distribution, which began about a week ago. To date, approximately 10,000 food baskets have been distributed.

In closing, the organization appealed to residents to cooperate with the institutions overseeing the distribution and to adhere to the established system to ensure that aid reaches all those in need. It warned against being misled by those seeking to create chaos.

The organization affirmed the right of all families in Kobani and its surrounding countryside, as well as the displaced, to receive aid. It stressed that delivering aid without a complete lifting of the siege does not constitute a lasting solution to the humanitarian crisis and called for its complete end.

At the end, journalists were given the opportunity to ask questions about the situation of the displaced and their need.

Sh-S

ANHA