Relief & Mental Health Services in Syria

Dear supporters!

We want to briefly update you about the current situation in North-East Syria as it is presenting to us and the impact on our team.

Already last year, we followed events unfolding in the country with great concern for the future of the country. Our concerns grew with the recent clashes in and around Aleppo. Especially our colleagues in Qamishlo looked anxiously to the change of years, knowing that it would bring about a solution to the future of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as well as the status of the Autonomous Region of Rojava, but that it would not necessarily come about entirely peacefully.

These days, their concerns appeared to get confirmed. Clashes between SDF and government forces broke out among others in the Hasakeh province, culminating in several ISIS fighters held in prisons and camps in the region getting freed. Our colleagues and clients fear for their and their families’ safety.

Our center in Qamishlo is about 1.5 hours to the north-east of the provincial capital al-Hasakeh, while our center in the Serekaniyeh camp is just a few minutes by car to the east. Both locations have been closed since the weekend to keep our colleagues and clients safe. 

We are very concerned for our colleagues, clients and all others in the region that have come under skirmishes. We hope that yesterday’s agreement to cease hostilities and work out a robust plan will be honoured by both sides and lead to a peaceful solution. At the same time, we are consulting with our colleagues both in Syria and Iraq how we can support displaced families once the situation is safe to do so.

When possible, we will provide further updates on the situation and our work inside North-East Syria. We hope to reopen our centers soon – we know how much our services are needed during these times.

Until then, we wish to say thank you for your support!