North and East Syria official Joseph Lahdo: Reopening UN crossing imperative for health and safety of people of North and East Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — Joseph Lahdo, Deputy Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria told SuroyoTV that it is of the utmost importance for the border crossing of North and East to remain open and for U.N. aid to again enter the region directly. Border crossings are the arteries of economy, he said, and provide medical devices and other materials important to human life such as food and goods.

The closure of crossings leading to DAA areas is an act of “economic war”, Lahdo said, intended to starve the people and prevent access to food and medicines, especially after the spread of coronavirus and the need to necessary medical devices, equipment, and vaccines.

Lahdo (Syriac Union Party) stated that the DAA continues to appeal to the United Nations and international community to work to open the Yaroubiya crossing between North and East Syria and Iraq to provide humanitarian services to the Syrian people beyond the grasp of the Syrian regime, which unfairly allocates aid to its supporters and armed forces, and Turkey, which does not allow aid to travel beyond the regions under its control.