The signatories of this statement call on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to protect civilians and their livelihoods, as well as to cease the targeting of vital infrastructure necessary for the survival of the population
Coinciding with Christmas and New Year celebrations, as well as the war in Gaza, the areas of north and east Syria, inhabited by diverse ethnic and religious groups, are witnessing destructive Turkish military escalation. This escalation includes targeting vital infrastructure, oil and energy sources, and essential facilities necessary for the survival of the civilian population, including Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDPs), mostly women and children, who have come from various Syrian regions.
The Turkish airstrikes began on December 24th, 2023, targeting several oil and energy facilities, including an oil station near Al-Kahef (Bana Shikfatiyah) Village Derik (Al-Malikiyah) and the Awda and Al-Saeeda oil fields in the countryside of Qamishli. The bombardment led to the shutdown of the aforementioned stations, depriving the residents of the region of electricity due to the interruption of gas supplies provided by these stations.
On December 25th, 2023, the Turkish army continued its attacks. Drones returned to bomb factories, service facilities, and civilian properties in Kobani (Ain al-Arab), Amuda, Qamishli, and Derik. Among the targeted sites were a medical facility, an olive oil factory, a sewing workshop, livestock feed facilities, a cement plant, a wedding hall, and the only oxygen cylinder manufacturing laboratory in the region. The most brutal attack was carried out against the workers of a printing press, resulting in the death of four employees, including a young woman.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense, in a statement, officially acknowledged responsibility for these strikes, confirming the deliberate intent behind these targeted attacks. The attacks resulted in the killing of eight people, including two young women, and injured over 14 others, as a preliminary toll, spreading panic among the local population.
The repeated Turkish attacks on infrastructure and energy sources destabilize the already fragile stability in the regions of north and east Syria, which has become a haven for hundreds of thousands of IDPs from across the country. This is not the first time that the infrastructure in the region has been destroyed, all in plain sight and view of the international community. The organizations undersigned in this statement demand the cessation of targeting infrastructure, civilian populations, and civilian properties in north and east Syria, where the residents continue to suffer from the ongoing repercussions of the bloody conflict since 2011. These organizations also remind the Turkish government that the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) imposes a strict and continuous obligation to distinguish between civilian properties and military targets. Infrastructure that provides essential services to civilian populations or which is indispensable for their survival enjoys additional protection under IHL, which explicitly prohibits “attacking objects and materials indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, or their destruction, removal, or impairment.”
The signatories strongly condemn the Turkish military escalation in north and east Syria, demanding an immediate cessation of attacks on civilians, infrastructure, vital facilities, and the respect of IHL. They also affirm that the deliberate targeting carried out by the Turkish government amounts to war crimes under the provisions of International Criminal Law (ICL). They request the following:
- UNSC/UN/EU: Take immediate measures to protect civilians and their fundamental rights in north and east Syria and exert pressure on the Turkish government to abide by IHL and cease exporting its internal issues to Syrian territories.
- International Coalition/USA: Immediately intervene to halt the Turkish attacks on north and east Syria, close the airspace to drones and warplanes targeting infrastructure, civilian properties, and populated areas, and reject the destabilization and undermining of efforts to combat ISIS.
- The International, Impartial, Independent Mechanism (IIIM): Intensify the collection of evidence regarding grave human rights violations committed by all parties to the conflict against civilians and civilian properties throughout Syria, including the repeated Turkish violations in north and east Syria. As well as issue a special report on the targeting of infrastructure in 2023 and its impact on civilian populations.
- War Crimes Units in countries whose laws allow for trials based on the principle of universal jurisdiction: Expand structural investigations into international crimes in Syria to include those occurring in the northern Syrian regions by all parties to the conflict.
The Signatory Organizations:
- Accountability Advocates Organization
- ACES
- Adil Center for Human Rights
- Afrin Platform
- Al Aseel Development Association
- Al Diyar Society
- Al Khaboor Association
- Almasa Center for Studies, Research, Consulting, arbitration and training
- Alseeraj Charity Association
- Al-Snabl Al-Khyryh
- Amal al-Furat
- Amal For Development
- Ambassadors Association for People with Disabilities
- Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization (ASO)
- Anoar al-Ghad
- ARAS Association
- Areej Organisation
- ASHNA for Development
- Ashti Center
- Aso News Network
- Association Culturelle Kurde de Genève
- Assyrian Society for Helping and Development
- Ataa Al-Baghouz Organization
- Awda For Development
- Bader Development and Community Development Organization
- Baghooz Hope for Development
- Baladna Organization
- Baladna Organization for Civil Society
- Balsam Center for Health Education
- Bedaya Org
- Better Hope for Al-Tabqa
- Better Tomorrow organization
- Bridge NGO
- Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development
- Center for Research and Protection of Women’s Rights
- Center Of Befense
- Chaushka Women’s Association
- Civil Society Youth Organization
- Cloud
- DAN for Relief and Development
- DAR Association for Victims of Forced Displacement
- Das Leben e.v
- Degla Organization for Development and Environment
- Democratik Woman Network
- DemoS
- Derina Organization
- Development Seeds Center
- Dya al-Aml
- Ebdaa Organization for Development
- Emaar Almansura
- Engineering for Services
- Enlil Center
- Enma Aljazera
- Ensaf for Development
- Environmental Protection
- Euphrates NGO
- European & American Solidarity Committee for Afrin – “Espoir Afrin”
- Fajr
- Fayd Organization for Development
- FDO
- For Them Organisation
- Friends Association for Relief and Development
- Future Makers Team
- Green Tress
- Hajein Technology Organization
- HDC Organisation
- Hevy for relief and development
- Hope Makers
- Hope Smile Organization
- Human Rights Organization In Jazeera
- Human Rights Organizations Afrin – Syria
- Inaash Org
- Ishtar Development Organization
- Jasmine Society
- Jiyan Charity Association
- Jiyan foundation for human rights
- Jsor Al-amal
- Khutwa Association
- Kobani for Relief and Development
- Lamsat Al Khier Association for Relief and Development
- Lelun Association For Victims
- Lights For Development And Construction
- Lotus Assocaition
- Makkum for Development and Peace
- Malva Organization for Arts, Culture and Education
- Mari Development Organization
- Mary For Culcher
- Mitan Center for Civil Society Revival
- Moltka al-Nhren
- Nasmet Amal Organising
- Nawras Development Organization
- NES-MAC
- Noon for development and support for women and children
- North Press agency
- Nudem Organization
- Nujin Society for Community Development
- Okaz
- Oxygen Shabab
- Peace Land Organization
- PEACE SHE LEADERS NET WORK
- PÊL- Civil Waves
- Pioneers of Peace
- Proposal The Civil Cooperation Team Organization
- Publsh Path
- Purity
- Qadar Organization
- Quality Research and Development
- Radiance of Hope
- Rahma Organization for Studies and Development
- Raja Organization for Relief and Development
- Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
- RÊ for Rehabilitation and Development
- Reng for Development
- Restore Hope Association
- Rights Defense Initiative- RDI
- Roj Kar for Relif and Development
- Rojava Association for Kurdish Culture and Literature
- Rojava Relief and Development Organizatiin
- Rose for Support and Empowerment
- Safe Land
- Sahem Organization for Cooperation and Development
- Salam Organization
- Sanabel Al-Furat
- Sanad Humanitarian Organization
- Sawaeed Organization for Development
- SCSD
- Shamal Charity Association
- Shams Al-Ghad organization
- Shaqayiq al-Khayr Org
- SHARE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Shilan Association For Relief and Development
- Sighted Hands Organisation
- Slav Organization for Civil Activities
- Society for Threatened Peoples
- Stability Support Centre
- Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
- Synergy Association for Victims
- Syria Help Organization
- Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
- Syrians For Truth and Judtice
- Taa Marbouta
- Tall Abyed for Civil Society
- Tara Development Organization
- Tayif Humanitarian Organization
- The Committee of Displaced People of Serê kaniyê/Ras Al-Ain
- Together for Jarnya
- Totol Foundation for Relief and Development
- Tree of Life Organization
- Warshin Association Of Environment
- Weqaya Association
- Wheat & Olive Platform
- White Hope Organization
- White Human Organization
- Women For Peace
- Youth for Change
- Zameen Org
- Zin Center for Development
- ZIREK (SMART) Organization for Development