As people return to Kobanê after the great resistance, Turkish government prevents aid from reaching Kobanê, which has a negative impact upon the daily lives of civilians in the city.

As people return to Kobanê after the great resistance, Turkish government prevents aid from reaching Kobanê, which has a negative impact upon the daily lives of civilians in the city. Coordination committee formed in the Suruç district of Urfa by municipalities and aid organizations state that the Turkish state prevents the flow of aid into Kobanê at the border with no explanation, and pressures the committee to turn over its aid packages to AFAD.

People of Kobanê struggle because of delays in the delivery of critical aid materials such as drinking water and food into the city. More than 100,000 people returned to Kobanê and a team of 40 vehicles is working hard to clear off city streets from wreckage and debris. Kobanê coordination committee calls for emergency aid into the city so that people survive and solve the problem of accommodation by September.

‘TURKISH STATE CONFISCATES INTERNATIONAL AID’

Suruç Municipality Consultant Narin Gezgör stated that humanitarian aid is being delayed through bureaucratic tactics and the current aid is not sufficient to respond to the needs of the increasing population in Kobanê. Gezgör stated that massacre attempts failed despite the difficult period Kobanê experienced. Gezgör highlighted the importance of international aid in the reconstruction of Kobanê and said that the Turkish state has been obstructing all aid delivery attempts.

‘AID OF 14 TRUCKS INCLUDING BABY FORMULA AND MILK AWAIT AT THE BORDER’

Gezgör said that the Turkish state introduced new regulations to slow down the flow of aid of 14 trucks at the border. These regulations direct international aid to Turkish state aid agency AFAD, which would then allow Suruç municipality to receive the aid and transport it to Kobanê. However, Gezgör stated that AFAD does not engage in written communication with Suruç Municipality, which results in the non-delivery of aid including baby formula, milk, and clothes for women and children.

‘URGENT NEEDS ARE NOT MET’

Gezgör stated that infrastructure and water supply networks were renewed after the declaration of autonomy in Kobanê, but were later destroyed during ISIS attacks and air strikes. Drinking water distribution centers are still occupied by ISIS forces, sewage system is dysfunctional, and electricity is almost non-existent in the city. Gezgör stated that people in Kobanê are in dire need of dry food, cleaning supplies, milk, clothes for women and children and shoes. Construction materials such as cement, iron bars and bricks are also needed for the reconstruction of Kobanê.

URGENT CALL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID CORRIDOR

Gezgör said that nearly 100,000 people from Kobanê continue to live in tent cities established around Suruç, and called on the entire globe to show sensitivity and ensure the opening of a humanitarian aid corridor into the city.