Urgent Appeal: humanitarian conditions deteriorate as displacement expands in Kobani villages

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Euphrates Canton stated that the city of Kobani is experiencing a wide and unprecedented wave of displacement due to recent military developments and the expansion of fighting into the villages and rural areas surrounding the city, forcing thousands of families to flee toward the city center under difficult humanitarian conditions.

In a statement, it explained that the displaced persons have been distributed among homes, public institutions, schools, kindergartens, as well as buildings unfit for habitation, which has exacerbated their suffering, especially amid the disruption of water, electricity, telecommunications, and internet services across the city and its countryside as a result of ongoing attacks.

It noted that the Office of Organizations Affairs and the Social Affairs and Workers’ Authority in Kobani, acting in line with their humanitarian responsibilities, have appealed to international bodies and humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently and respond to the growing needs of the displaced.

In this context, several humanitarian organizations responded, including UNICEF, YNHSAR, DWFPY, UNPFE, War Child, Bahar Organization, Solidarity Organization, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. A humanitarian aid convoy was dispatched from the city of Aleppo to Kobani, and distribution to displaced families has begun in coordination with the relevant authorities on the ground. Distribution operations are still ongoing.

The statement emphasized that the volume of aid provided remains insufficient compared to the actual needs, in light of the continuous increase in the number of displaced persons and the deterioration of their living conditions. It warned against attempts by certain parties to claim credit for these aid efforts, stressing that the organizations that sent the assistance are known and are directly supervising its distribution.

The statement called on international powers and humanitarian and human rights organizations to take urgent action to halt the attacks on the city of Kobani and its countryside, to send additional humanitarian aid, and to visit the area to directly assess the humanitarian situation, holding international silence responsible for the worsening suffering of civilians.

ANHA