ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Nearly two weeks after an internationally brokered agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava), the Kurdish city of Kobane remains under a crippling humanitarian siege, with a local politician warning that the situation is heading toward “a catastrophe” as residents face severe shortages of food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies.
Adnan Bozan, head of the Kurdish National Council’s (ENKS/KNC) office in Kobane, told Rudaw that while hostilities have ceased between the Syrian interim government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the agreement has yet to bring tangible relief to residents.
“The situation is heading toward a catastrophe day by day. It has been more than 10 days since the agreement between the SDF and the Damascus government was signed... but in Kobane, even after 10 days, only the ceasefire has been put into effect,” he said, adding that while shelling has stopped, the siege remains in place.
ENKS is the main opposition umbrella group in Rojava.
In mid-January, the Syrian Arab Army and allied armed groups launched a large-scale offensive to push back Rojava’s de facto military force, the SDF, from areas in northern and northeastern Syria, including Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasaka provinces.
In late January, the SDF and Damascus announced they had reached an internationally brokered agreement to end hostilities and integrate Rojava’s civil and military institutions under state control.
Despite the agreement, the Kurdish city of Kobane remains under a strict blockade that has been ongoing for over three weeks.
“Until now, the siege on Kobane continues and life there is difficult," Bozan said, adding that the situation in Kobane is dire, as daily necessities like food, water, electricity, fuel, and internet are no longer available.
“It is a miserable life - a life without electricity, without water, without internet, and without fuel.