Humanitarian Korridor to Rojava

We are humanitarian and civil society organisations and individuals, whose works are focused on the peaceful co-existence of peoples in religous, ethnical and gender diversity. We believe that people's access to health, nutrition and education are basic human rights.

In relation to this, we have been observing with concern recent developments in Syria and especially in the Kurdish regions.

Kurdish people, along with other minority groups in northern Syria, were particularly vulnerable to attack under the Baath regime. They were not allowed to speek their mother tongue, have been imprisoned solely because of their identity, and did not have any rights to political participation or representation. More recently, Kurds as well as other ethnic and religious minorities have been targetted for attack once again, this time by ISIS in northern Syria. Only because of the heroic self defense of the Kurds has a much greater genocide been prevented. Nonetheless, hundreds of thousands of people have fled from the region, and more waves of refugees are expected. But these flows of refugees can be averted. We know from reports that a quarter of the people living in northern Syria are refugees. This is very difficult for the local government and there is an urgent need for action. For this reason we, as international organizations and individuals, also have a responsibility to support the people of this region in the long-term with their provisions for basic needs and with their structures for self organisation. After access to food, the focus should be on access to medical and mental health care as well as educational opportunities.

Recently aid agencies and relief organizations have reported increasing difficulties in terms of the local co-operation they are receiving to facilitate their work. As we know, the KRG has established a border crossing with Northern Syria. This is a KRG controlled border crossing at Peshabor in Semalka. Until last autumn, delegations and individuals regularly passed this border crossing to gather inform about the situation and projects in Northern Syria and to run projects themselves. A number of relief shipments were also made. As organizations and individuals we welcomed this support of the region of Northern Syria by the KRG.

The plight of the Kurds is a significant factor influencing the stability of and peace in the Middle East. Through their independent struggle against ISIS, the Kurds have made a big commitment to the defense of humanity. Many Kurds have lost their lives in this struggle. We believe that this means the region of northern Syria is in particular need of our support and solidarity.

Unfortunately several delegations and individuals have reported recently that they were not permitted by the KRG to cross the border into Northern Syria/Rojava. We have been informed that for the last 6 months humanitarian aid has been stopped at the border. We see this development as very problematic.

Continuous independent reporting from this region, the observing of the region by human rights activists, international delegations providing professional support and local support from aid organizations are all necessary for the region and for the international community. For the stability of the region humanitarian aid projects and ongoing support are essential. For this to be possible the staff of these organisations must be able to travel to the region; they must be permitted to come and go freely.

We understand and appreciate your efforts to protect people who are visiting the region from international countries. However, these are people who are accustomed to traveling to regions of crisis and war to support the people there or to report on the situation. Although the security situation is difficult, thanks to the two authorities (in the KRG and Rojava) the wellbeing and safety of all delegations has been ensured.

Because of this we kindly appeal to Mr. Barzani, Mr. Barzani and the representatives of KRG to support the work of our organisations and other organisations and individuals, by permitting and facilitating the entry of convoys, delegations of humanitarian workers, journalists, relief and aid organiations and its staffs into the region of Northern Syria/Rojava.

In our opinion, meeting the demands of the Region of North Syria will also benefit the Kurds in the KRG, by advancing the stability of the Middle East and also reducing further refugee flows. For this reason we ask KRG to support first aid convoys, international delegations, individuals journalists, staff members from aid organizations, doctors and professionals from the health sector in their work.