Turkish AirStrikes Continue in Rojava as Humanitarian Crisis Aggravates

Annachiara Canetta

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

On November 20th the Republic of Türkiye began an offensive in Northeast Syria, also known as Rojava. Operation Claw-Sword, as it has been named, mainly consist of airstrikes for the moment, and it has been declared in retaliation of the terrorist attack which happened in Istanbul on November 13th. Türkiye’s president Erdogan blamed the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria for the attack, while the groups denied their involvement. [1]

The aerial bombardments carried out by Turkish forces are allegedly targeting Syrian Democratic Forces outposts (formed by YPG and affiliated military groups), but they struck densely populated areas and critical infrastructure such as a school, grain silos, power plants, gas stations, oil fields. [2] The attacks are causing hindered electricity delivery for civilians and have altered the functioning of a water station in the area. [3]

The attacks come amid a water crisis and cholera outbreak in the region, which were already aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the war and the consequent displacement crisis and economic collapse. [4] The air strikes carried out by Türkiye are worsening the already unbearable situation that Syrian and Kurdish people are faced with. Human Rights Watch, together with other NGOs, called Türkiye to the respect of International Humanitarian Law and to minimise the impact on civilians. [5]

Sources and further reading:

[1] Northeast Syria: Turkish Strikes Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis. (2022, December 7). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/07/northeast-syria-turkish-strikes-exacerbate-humanitarian-crisis  

[2] NES NGO Forum. (2022, November 25). Uptick of Hostilities lead to Power Cuts and result in increased Humanitarian and Environmental Risks.). Reliefweb. https://m.reliefweb.int/report/3910613/syrian-arab-republic/uptick-hostilities-lead-power-cuts-and-result-increased-humanitarian-and-environmental-risks ;  Northeast Syria: Turkish Strikes Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis. (2022, December 7). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/07/northeast-syria-turkish-strikes-exacerbate-humanitarian-crisis   

[3] NES NGO Forum. (2022, November 25). Uptick of Hostilities lead to Power Cuts and result in increased Humanitarian and Environmental Risks.). Reliefweb. https://m.reliefweb.int/report/3910613/syrian-arab-republic/uptick-hostilities-lead-power-cuts-and-result-increased-humanitarian-and-environmental-risks

[4] Northeast Syria: Turkish Strikes Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis. (2022, December 7). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/07/northeast-syria-turkish-strikes-exacerbate-humanitarian-crisis  

[5] Northeast Syria: Turkish Strikes Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis. (2022, December 7). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/07/northeast-syria-turkish-strikes-exacerbate-humanitarian-crisis ; NES NGO Forum. (2022, November 25). Uptick of Hostilities lead to Power Cuts and result in increased Humanitarian and Environmental Risks.). Reliefweb. https://m.reliefweb.int/report/3910613/syrian-arab-republic/uptick-hostilities-lead-power-cuts-and-result-increased-humanitarian-and-environmental-risks