Update December 4 – Northern Syria Offensive

Highlights - As displaced families continue to pour in to NES, the DAANES estimates that numbers of IDPs will soon reach 120,000. - Critical shortages of essential supplies, food, water, medicines and accommodation for IDPs. - SNA commits…

Interview: The relevance of people’s buses in times of economic crisis, municipality of Qamishlo

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Last year, the municipality of Qamishlo has set up public transport for the first time in this city: the Basên Gel (People’s buses). It is the first step towards more sustainable and affordable transport in North-East Syria, a region…

Interview: “These ‘cafes’ manipulate women, and so we shut them down” – Raqqa Women’s Office

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A recent ruling from the Raqqa Civil Council bans women from working in “cafeterias” in the city, as well as banning the public consumption of alcohol. On the one hand, the ruling provides an example of North and East Syria’s devolved…

Interview: “AANES must build a true partnership between Arabs, Syriac-Assyrians and Kurds” – Daoud Daoud, Assyrian Democratic Organization

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Can you introduce yourself and the Assyrian Democratic Organization? My name is Daoud Lahoud Daoud, and I am a civil engineer and general secretary of the Assyrian Democratic Organization. The Assyrian Democratic Organization is an Assyrian…

Interview: “We must develop a common view of the curriculum for our schools” – Kemal Musa, head of the Education committee of Deir-ez-Zor

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With the establishment of the Civil Council of Deir-ez-Zor in 2017, an Education Committee was created focusing on the revitalization and rebuilding of the education system. A civil committee has recently decided not to teach the curriculum…

Interview: “Social distancing is impossible” – Doctor working in Al-Hol camp on Corona prevention measures

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Interview with Ahmed*, doctor working at the medical point inside Al-Hol camp. The interview was carried out on 28 July 2020. Which Coronavirus measures have been set up in Al-Hol camp? Several humanitarian actors have collectively set…

Transcript: Col. Myles Caggins of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS – joint press conference with SDF

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Myles Caggins: It's good to see everybody. My colleagues and my partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have just described the important operations against ISIS in Heseke and Deir-ez-Zor. And I'm here to remind everyone that the…

Interview: Why do the ‘Caesar’ sanctions affect NES, and how can this be prevented? – Cheleng Omer, economist

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Cheleng Omer is a former professor at Afrin University, and one of the top economists in North and East Syria. The interview was carried out on 19 July 2020. RIC: The Caesar Act has been created by the US Government to put economical…

Interview: “When COVID-19 does arrive, these water cuts will kill people” – Sara Montinaro from Kurdish Red Crescent

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Sara Montinaro, project manager at Kurdish Red Crescent, explains the water situation in Heseke after the latest cut-off of Allouk water station which is under Turkish occupation. She was interviewed on 11 July 2020. We are here to face…
HPC-Jin

Interview: Civil Defense Forces commanders on community policing in North and East Syria

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The Civil Defense Forces (HPC) is a voluntary, community-based organisation which carries out community policing functions in NES. Following the recent unrest in the USA, the HPC has been held up by some commentators as an alternative…

Interview: NGO officer talks about the situation of IDPs since Turkish invasion

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Washokani IDP camp Interview with Mohammed Baaqi, livelihood officer for the NGO Hevi. The NGO works with IDPs living both in camps and informal settlements. Mohammed Baaqi was interviewed 26 April 2020. My name is Mohammed Baaqi, and…