Administration of North and East Syria appeals for urgent aid as 30,000 families flee violence in Northern Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In the aftermath of violent clashes and the takeover of Tel Rifaat and Al-Shahba in northern Holeb (Aleppo) countryside by the Turkish-proxy Syrian National Army (SNA), over 30,000 displaced families have sought refuge in areas controlled by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES).

Sheikhmus Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Office of Camps and Displaced Persons in DAARNES’s Social Affairs and Toilers Authority, confirmed the influx of displaced families to the region. He emphasized the dire need for immediate assistance from the United Nations, citing the limited capacity of both local organizations and DAARNES to adequately address the crisis.

Ahmed revealed that buses had been dispatched to transport families still stranded in Al-Shahba to safer areas, though many remain without proper shelter or refuge. He described the lack of international support as a critical challenge, noting that the resources of DAARNES are insufficient to meet the needs of the displaced population.

Appealing to the United Nations, Ahmed called for urgent aid to be delivered to North and East Syria. He stressed the importance of reopening the Tel Kochar crossing, which has remained closed since 2020 due to Russian and Chinese vetoes, as a vital channel for humanitarian support.

Despite the overwhelming situation, Ahmed expressed gratitude for local community efforts in providing aid. He affirmed that the Social Affairs and Toilers Authority, in collaboration with agencies across DAARNES administered territories, is committed to addressing the needs of displaced families to the best of their abilities.

The crisis highlights the escalating humanitarian challenges in northern Syria, with displaced communities urgently requiring shelter, food, and medical assistance as they navigate the aftermath of conflict and displacement.