Swiss delegation visits Rojava to assess humanitarian situation

The delegation was welcomed by the Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations, Fener Al-Kaeit, his deputy Gulistan Ali, Dr. Abdulkarim Omar, the Autonomous Administration’s representative in Damascus, and Khaled Ibrahim, head of the department’s humanitarian section.

During the meeting, Fener Al-Kaeit welcomed the visiting delegation and briefed them on the overall political situation in Syria following the fall of the Baath regime. Discussions also addressed the agreements signed with the interim government, the reasons for their non-implementation, and the challenges facing the process of putting them into effect.

Officials of the Autonomous Administration also informed the Swiss delegation about the severe humanitarian situation in the Administration’s regions, particularly in the city of Kobani, which remains under siege and continues to suffer from cuts to water, electricity, and telecommunications. This comes amid the presence of tens of thousands of displaced people who have sought refuge in the city from various areas, including Raqqa, Tabqa, the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, as well as Afrin.

The meeting also discussed the January 18 agreement, with Autonomous Administration officials expressing their hope that its provisions would be implemented in a manner that ensures the integration of the Autonomous Administration’s military, security, and administrative institutions into Syrian state institutions, while preserving the specific character of Kurdish regions.

For her part, Franziska Ster, speaking on behalf of the Swiss delegation, expressed her gratitude for the warm reception.

She stressed that the visit aims to offer support to Rojava, closely examine the political and humanitarian situation in the region, monitor and document ongoing violations, and prepare files on the humanitarian situation and violations to be submitted to relevant international bodies.

ANHA