Volunteers load boxes of food baskets onto trucks in the Soran Autonomous Administration, Erbil governorate, as part of a community-led effort to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Rojava, northeastern Syria, amid ongoing displacement and winter hardships. Photo by 964media.
Kurdistan Region mobilizes in aid drive for Rojava as fighting and winter deepen hardship
ERBIL — Families, schools, unions and local administrations across the Kurdistan Region have stepped up humanitarian aid efforts for civilians in Rojava, northeastern Syria, as fighting and winter conditions deepen displacement and shortages.
In the Soran Autonomous Administration, a family from the village of Hawdiyan prepared 500 food baskets for delivery to Rojava. The baskets include basic necessities such as baby milk, cooking oil, rice, chickpeas, lentils, beans, canned meat, tomato paste, tea and medicine. Jigar Dolani, who is coordinating the delivery, told 964media that the Sheikh Jamal Hawdiyani family chose not to appear publicly and handed over the aid for distribution. “This is a national and Kurdish duty,” he said, adding that the supplies will be sent to Rojava in the coming days and urging donors and business owners in Soran to follow the same example.
In Sulaymaniyah, students, teachers and staff at a school organized a fundraising activity by bringing food and sweets from home to sell on campus. Deputy principal Shanga Dara told 964media that proceeds would be allocated to children in Rojava and to orphan care centers in Sulaymaniyah.
Elsewhere, a three-day fundraising campaign for Rojava residents began in Tuz Khurmatu district in Salahaddin governorate and was later extended. Campaign supervisor Heman Barzan told 964media, “More than 80 million dinars ($52,980) have been collected in three days,” adding that the campaign was extended following public demand. “We expect the amount to exceed 100 million dinars ($66,225),” he said, noting that the funds will be delivered to Rojava through campaign representatives.
In Sulaymaniyah, nine health unions and professional organizations launched a weeklong campaign to collect medical supplies and other essentials. At a news conference, Hawzhin Othman, head of the Health Workers Organization branch in Sulaymaniyah, said the campaign would gather “medical supplies and all other necessities needed by the people of Rojava,” to be sent after collection. Representatives of the Kurdish Red Crescent and the Democratic Union Party also took part.
On Sunday, Jan. 25, aid collected through Erbil’s governorate-level campaign was dispatched to Rojava in 16 trucks carrying food, blankets, carpets, construction materials, children’s items and general supplies. The Erbil Chamber of Commerce contributed 50 million dinars in cash, alongside donations from thousands of residents, according to a governorate statement.
Individual initiatives have continued alongside organized campaigns. Masoud Mohammed, a young man from Kalar, told 964media that unity and mutual support are essential at what he described as a sensitive moment. “The situation is difficult, and it is important that we all support and help one another,” he said, adding that providing aid is “not only a humanitarian duty, but a sign of living national solidarity among the parts of Kurdistan.” He said the scenes he has witnessed have had a deep emotional impact. “These days I have shed many tears — tears of victory and pride — because at this time, what matters is being Kurdish,” he said.
Kochar Zangana, a teacher from Garmian, said he came with his family to a collection site to share what they could. “The food we eat at home, we came to share a part of it with our brothers in Rojava,” he told 964media, calling on residents across Garmian to take part.
The growing aid efforts come as conditions in northeastern Syria deteriorate following renewed assaults by Syrian government forces and allied armed groups on Kurdish-held areas after the collapse of a ceasefire and integration agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Kurdish officials say the fighting has displaced large numbers of civilians, disrupted access to fuel, food and shelter, and raised fears of demographic change.
In response, the Kurdistan Regional Government has launched a broad humanitarian program, including winter fuel deliveries to Rojava through the Barzani Charity Foundation, while governorates in Erbil, Duhok, Soran, Kirkuk and elsewhere have opened collection points. The aid drives coincide with widespread demonstrations across the Kurdistan Region and abroad supporting Rojava, as well as grassroots mobilization following calls by the SDF for public support.