The neighbourhoods of Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiye in Aleppo, are highly populated by Kurds. The two neighbourhoods have been self-governed thanks to the 19 July 2012 revolution.

However, the two neighbourhoods have been exposed to attacks by gangs supported by Turkey for 11 years, and are also under the strict embargo imposed by the Damascus government.

In addition, they house hundreds of families who fled from other conflict areas. The infrastructure system was damaged as a result of these attacks as well as the 6 February earthquake and is tried to be repaired. However, the recent tightening of the Damascus government embargo, which has been going on for 5 years, affects these efforts badly.

The Shehba-Afrin Canton Administration said on 27 April that Damascus had tightened the embargo and therefore all work had stopped. On 1 May, Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiye neighbourhood councils announced that the work had stopped for the same reason.

One of the important works stopped due to the embargo is infrastructure repair work. Şêxmeqsûd and Eşrefiye People's Municipality Infrastructure System Protection Committee member Hisên Ehmed, told ANHA that due to the embargo they could not procure needed materials such as sewer pipes, iron and cement, and added that the Damascus government forces, which increased the checkpoints at the entrances of the neighbourhood, did not allow the passage of necessary materials for 20 days.

Ehmed pointed out that there are problems because some parts of the sewerage network are broken or cracked pipes, and therefore there is a danger of sewage water flowing onto the ground of the buildings. He said: "A few days ago, a building where sewage water flowed on the floor had to be demolished."

Ehmed said that the repair works should be speeded up by intervening as soon as possible, and called for the embargo to be lifted.