DAARNES hands over woman and three children from Islamic State families to British delegation

ZALIN (QAMISHLI), North and East Syria – The institutions of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) continue to regularly host European and foreign delegations. A British delegation, led by Deputy Director of the UK Special Representative for Syria Mary Shockledge and Second Secretary for Political Affairs at the UK Office for Syrian Affairs Niamh Connolly, paid an official visit to DAARNES, and were received by External Relations Department Co-Chair Fener Gayt, member of the Administrative Board Khalid Ibrahim, Advisor to the Semalka Border Crossing Administration Rojhat Ali, and representative of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) Lana Hussein. 

The British delegation was briefed on the latest developments in negotiations between the DAARNES and Syrian Transitional Government (STG), the associated committees that are set up for the dialogue sessions, the intra-Kurdish dialogue, and DAARNES’ stance on the constitutional declaration. Gayt and co. also emphasized that DAARNES will continue cooperating with the United Kingdom and other countries whose citizens and children remain in its territory. 

Mary Shockledge welcomed the DAARNES agreement with the STG, stating that after more than 13 years of conflict, the situation in the region remains challenging, with severe humanitarian and security consequences for the local population. She also noted that the Islamic State continues to pose a serious threat to communities in Syria, Iraq and beyond, inflicting horrors on individuals and societies, and that it should be defeated. 

The British delegation received a British woman and 3 children from Islamic State families, in accordance with an official handover document signed by the representatives of DAARNES and the UK.