WAN - Access to healthcare in Kobanê (Kobani) has become increasingly difficult as the siege of the city has not been fully lifted. Hüseyin Yaviç, the Wan (Van) representative of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), warned that the continuation of the siege could lead to serious health crises.
Following attacks on Rojava on January 6 by groups including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ISIS, and Turkey-backed factions, a siege began in Kobani that has yet to be fully lifted. The blockade has disrupted the health system and treatment processes, while limited access to clean water has increased the risk of infectious diseases.
Yaviç said that ending the conflict environment and ensuring access to basic necessities would help resolve many of these issues.
‘ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS DIFFICULT’
Yaviç stated that the siege has also triggered displacement, increasing the population and worsening the crisis.
“With the ongoing conflict in the Kobanê and Rojava region, Kobanê was placed under siege. The siege has lasted for a long time and has still not been fully lifted. The existing population combined with displacement caused by the fighting has led to a significant population increase,” he said.
Stating that this situation has created a serious crisis in the city’s healthcare infrastructure, Yaviç said: “There is a severe shortage of essential medicines and basic medical supplies in healthcare institutions. The depletion of drug stocks and insufficient delivery of medical supplies to the city have severely affected treatment processes.”
‘PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE AT RISK’
Yaviç noted that children have died due to the lack of treatment and warned that pregnant women are also facing serious risks. “The inability to provide healthcare services under ideal conditions has had major consequences. In particular, the monitoring and treatment of children and pregnant women have been severely affected,” he said.
According to information shared by organizations such as Heyva Sor a Kurd (Kurdish Red Crescent), some children have died because they could not receive proper treatment. He also noted that the lack of clean water has increased the spread of infectious diseases and that treatment disruptions have severely affected patients with chronic illnesses.
‘ACCESS TO HEALTH FACILITIES IS RESTRICTED’
Yaviç added that access to healthcare facilities is also limited due to security concerns: “In an environment where there is no safe setting, people cannot easily reach healthcare institutions. Access for elderly individuals and those with chronic diseases has been seriously restricted.”
He also pointed out that the lack of balanced nutrition and clean water has led to intestinal diseases and other infectious illnesses, which have caused deaths among children.
‘THE SIEGE MUST BE LIFTED’
Yaviç emphasized that the siege must be lifted and humanitarian corridors opened to address the crisis.
“A humanitarian corridor should be opened through border crossings closer to Kobanê to allow basic aid deliveries. Barriers to aid must be removed,” he said.
He called for the rapid delivery of medicines, the repair of healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring that hospitals have access to essential equipment and supplies. “If these conditions are not addressed, Kobanê may face a deepening humanitarian crisis,” Yaviç warned.
He concluded by stating that ending the conflict environment and ensuring access to shelter, food, water, and essential supplies would play a key role in resolving the crisis.
