24.01. – 12:00 CET – Ongoing protest actions Worldwide
Ongoing protest actions worldwide
On every continent the diverse actions continue e.g. in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and South America, international and nongovernmental organizations, organized acts against attacks on the Rojava revolution, giving a message of solidarity and support. The diverse actions reach from informing and educating events to mass demonstrations. Also actions that raise the pressure on governments and companies to take a stance or drop the support of the Turkish and so called Syrian government. 3 Convoys from Europe and many more from Irak, Iran and Turkey are on their way to reach Kobane. They will bring humanitarian support or join the military defense of Rojava.
Reports of an extension of the Ceasefire until now unconfirmed
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan raises security risks as US begins moving thousands of ISIS prisoners from Syria to Iraq. Therefore Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the ceasefire between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) may be extended. SDF-controlled north-east Syria is home to several prisons holding thousands of ISIS fighters. When Damascus took over the heavily guarded facilities the chaotic handover raised international concerns when militants escaped from the prison in Hasakah. On Wednesday, the US military said it had begun moving ISIS detainees from north-east Syria to Iraq, with US Central Command (Centcom) relocating them to “a secure location in Iraq”. 7,000 ISIS detainees could be moved under the programme.
A four-day ceasefire was agreed on Tuesday between Mr Al Shara and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, as Syrian forces pushed deeper into Hasakah governorate, seizing positions up to eight kilometres from the city, which is home to a sizeable Kurdish population. The ceasefire bought additional time to formulate a solution for SDF integration.
Without an agreement, Syrian troops were expected to push further into the SDF-territory, including Hasakah city and the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane. The National visited the front line hours before the ceasefire was set to expire. With a diplomatic solution still out of sight, civilians on both sides are preparing for what they fear most: a full-scale conflict that could bring more death and destruction, just as Syria is beginning to turn the page on 13 years of civil war.
A source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry told Al-Ikhbariya that what is being circulated about extending the ceasefire with the SDF is not true.
Forced Migration in Rojava as a weapon and warcrime
In Rojava, tens of thousands of people have been displaced in many cities due to ongoing attacks. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 3,400 families have been displaced from their homes. The Observatory also issued a warning about a humanitarian crisis, especially for children and women, who, along with people with disabilities, are the first victims of the war.
Furthermore, it is clear that this forced migration is not random, but is deliberately used as a weapon against the people and the resistance of Rojava. The displacements are also being carried out against the will of the people, who are not ready to leave their homes, as demonstrated by the local, partly armed, resistances. The displacements therefore also constitute a clear war crime.
4 Children died due to severe cold in Kobanê
Due to the severe cold in Rojava and the ongoing siege, 4 children have died. The blockade continues to be enforced by HTS, the Turkish state, and ISIS fighters. In addition, the situation is also worsening due to mass migration to Rojava and Kobaně out of fear of the jihadists in the surrounding regions.
