ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In the heart of northeast Syria (Rojava), a group of volunteers from Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is working to restore joy to children whose lives have been overshadowed by violence.
In Qamishli city, the team organized a lively dance activity at a local school, drawing laughter and smiles from children traumatized by ongoing conflict.
"So, here in Rojava, we are primarily configured for a combat zone frontlines relief with our advanced paramedics to treat people caught in the crossfire and evacuate them to higher levels of care, to hospitals in the region, and also to coordinate with our foundation's partners and bring humanitarian aid those displaced all throughout Rojava," said Zachariah Alan Kier, head of the volunteer team.
The team comprises 25 volunteers, including 17 Americans, who have been visiting the Kurdistan Region and Rojava since 2014. They plan to stay in the region for one month, focusing on delivering food, running activities for children, and treating the wounded on the frontlines.
“We know that many factions in these areas do not care about war crimes,” said Sky Barkley, a volunteer paramedic, referring to Damascus-backed armed groups. "We understand the risks of this job. But this is such a valuable humanitarian contribution to everything happening in this part of the world."
FBR members visit IDP camps across Rojava and aim to reach Kobane, currently under severe siege by Damascus-linked forces.
“Our goal is to open a humanitarian corridor for the city of Kobane,” said Dilshad Adil, a Free Burma Ranger team member.
The group’s work comes as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus reached an integration agreement, seen as a possible pathway to ending fighting in this predominantly Kurdish region.
According to United Nations estimates, the recent conflict has displaced around 100,000 people, most of them Kurds.
The Damascus-SDF agreement promises the safe return of displaced families to their homes.