Four Children Die from Cold in Besieged Syrian Kurdish City of Kobane
Four children have died from cold exposure in the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane in northern Syria, aid organizations reported Saturday, citing a severe siege imposed by Damascus-backed armed factions.
The Kurdish Red Crescent announced the deaths, attributing them directly to the harsh conditions created by the blockade. "Due to the severe siege on the city of Kobane, four children have died from cold," said Hadiya Abdullah, co-chair of the organization in the Rojava region.
The tragedy underscores a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in a city of profound symbolic importance to Kurds worldwide. Kobane was the site of a pivotal and costly battle in 2014-2015, where Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led airstrikes, eventually repelled a brutal siege by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
The current siege occurs amid escalating tensions between the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who control large parts of northeast Syria. Since mid-January, Syrian government forces and allied militias have advanced into SDF-held territory across several provinces, including Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasaka.
The children's deaths were reported a day after the United Nations issued a warning about Kobane. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that all access routes to the city remain closed by Syrian government forces, severely disrupting essential services.
“All roads connecting to Kobane are currently closed. Interruptions to the power supply, water, and internet are hampering people’s access to basic services,” Haq told Rudaw.
When asked by Rudaw if the UN had raised concerns with Syrian authorities over what was described as a siege, Haq said, “We are engaging with the authorities. We want to carry out more assessments and ensure that access to Kobane is facilitated, and we will continue that work.”
He added that the UN is in contact with authorities in Aleppo regarding support and that UN agencies continue to provide aid in conflict-affected regions across northern Syria.
