Over 100,000 displaced amid ongoing fighting; influx of refugees from Aleppo and surrounding areas overwhelms local resources and shelter capacities
A devastating humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Kurdish-held northeast Syria (Rojava), where more than 300,000 displaced individuals—many of them women and children—have fled recent violence in the northwestern region of Al-Shahba.
The influx of refugees, primarily from Aleppo and surrounding areas, has overwhelmed local resources, leaving families with no adequate shelter, food or medical care.
In response, the Kurdish-controlled Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria has activated emergency plans to accommodate the growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) arriving through the Tabqa crossing point.
As one local humanitarian worker stated, “[Armed groups] occupied the whole region in Aleppo including Al-Shahba. We have no access right now, and we don’t know how the situation will unfold in the coming days. We are activating the emergency plan to receive a large number of IDPs coming to northeast Syria through the Tabqa crossing point.”
The worker, who cannot be named for security reasons, also highlighted the destruction of vital infrastructure. The housing development constructed in Al-Shahba, part of the joint “Hawxamtanin” aid project following the February 2023 earthquake, has been severely damaged by the occupation of armed groups. The project had involved collaboration between several organizations, including KSC and the Civil Development Organization.
Currently, displaced families are seeking shelter from the cold in overcrowded schools and mosques, with resources stretched beyond capacity. The closure of key border crossings, including the Til Kochar (Al-Yarubiyah) crossing with Iraq, has significantly hindered the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.
“This is a humanitarian tragedy of immense scale,” says Sara Rashid, KSC President. “The situation has reached a critical point, with access to basic necessities like food, water and medical care already dire. The current crisis has only exacerbated these challenges, further straining already limited resources and services. We call for immediate diplomatic measures to be taken to open border crossings and allow the urgent flow of aid. Only through coordinated action can we prevent further suffering among these vulnerable populations.”
Rashid further emphasized the need for special attention to children, many of whom may be unaccompanied and at increased risk in these perilous conditions.
“In these difficult times, it is essential that the international community upholds its commitment to human rights, particularly the rights of children. Children are among the most vulnerable in this crisis, and we must ensure they are not overlooked in the delivery of aid and protection.”
KSC calls on international agencies and donors to urgently mobilize resources and ensure that lifesaving supplies, particularly for children—such as food, medicine and shelter materials—are delivered without delay.
Key Points of Urgency:
1. Diplomatic measures must be urgently taken to open border crossings, enabling the delivery of humanitarian aid.
2. Immediate resources are needed for shelter, food, medicine and basic necessities for displaced children and their families.
3. Coordinated international response is essential to address this humanitarian disaster and prevent further
About KSC
KSC is a non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian organization that provides assistance to children regardless of race, gender, political or religious affiliation. It operates through four essential programs: Child Protection, Education, Health and Youth Ability Development as well as emergency relief during disasters.
KSC’s main aim is to work directly or indirectly to ensure a better future for children by improving and providing their various medical, social, economic and educational needs.
KSC was co-founded in 1991 by Hero Ibrahim Ahmad and Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmad, currently First Lady of Iraq.
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