The threat and siege of Rojava by HTS-ISIS and Turkish backed paramilitary groups continues. More than half a million people live in Kobanê (Kobani), which has been under siege by these groups for 20 days. Kobanê is both taking responsibility for the forcible displaced refugees and resisting the attacks. 

 

Many medicines are unavailable; diabetes, blood pressure and kidney patients in particular are facing serious difficulties. Similarly, cancer patients are unable to continue their treatment due to the siege.

 

Damascus is waging a special war against Kobanê with this siege; it wants to break the will of Kobanê, which is a symbol of resistance worldwide and the place where ISIS was defeated for the first time. The people of Kobanê have not remained silent since the first day of the siege and are showing a resistant attitude. The people are organising their daily lives through communes and ensuring their own defence neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

 

According to the agreement reached between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government on 30 January, the siege was to be lifted on 2 February. However, the siege continues; the political and psychological attacks against Kobanê persist.