The UN Security Council must hold an emergency meeting regarding the recent Turkish attacks, exert pressure to stop them, and protect civilians and infrastructure, giving effect to the provisions of international law
Press Release:
Turkey intensified military activities in the northeastern parts and several areas in the western parts of Syria over the second half of 2022. However, the escalation climaxed on 20 November 2022, when the Turkish army launched the operation code-named “claw-sword.” With the new incursion, Turkey purportedly is responding to the terrorist attack on Taksim Street even though the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) denied involvement in the bombing.
Over the first two days of the operation, Turkish aircraft and drones bombarded several civilian objects, including a hospital equipped to offer medical services to children and a former COVID-19 care facility in Kobanî/Ayn al-Arab, in Aleppo’s countryside. Additionally, the airstrikes targeted the silos in the suburbs of al-Dirbasiyah, in al-Hasakah, and a power station in the suburbs of al-Malikiyah/Derik. The attacks killed several civilians, among them a journalist, and injured others.
Following the initial attacks, the Turkish military widened the scope of their airstrikes. Turkish air forces targeted new areas in the rural parts of al-Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor and even hit the Hol Camp. With the expansion, aerial bombing also became more hostile.
Turkish aircraft hit several vital facilities, including power stations and oil and gas resources. The attacks rendered several of the targeted facilities inoperable, straining the infrastructure already dilapidated by the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2011. Consequently, the attacks denied the local communities in the affected areas and millions of residents across other Syrian territories access to energy.
In parallel with the Turkish incursion, several missiles also landed in A’zaz, controlled by the Syrian armed opposition groups, on 22 November 2022. The attack killed and injured civilians.
Notably, grave human rights violations and war crimes marked all of Turkey’s incursions into Syria since 2016. During and after the Turkey-led operations, the military repeatedly horrified and initiated attacks on the villages, towns, and cities across northern Syria. Hostilities destabilized these areas, which today are home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled their original places of residence in other parts of the country to the safety of its north.
The recent Turkish attacks renewed concerns over displacement. The hostilities have already forced several locals to escape their homes and threaten to displace thousands of others should they continue, and in case Turkey decides to start a ground incursion. Notably, prospective displacement waves threaten to over-stretch humanitarian response efforts that have already been exhausted by previous incursions. Considering this, the undersigned organizations condemn the military escalation in northeastern Syria and the Istanbul bombing and demand that Turkey end attacks on civilians and civilian objects immediately and demonstrate respect for international humanitarian law. Additionally, the undersigned organizations demand that:
The United Nations Security Council hold an emergency meeting regarding the recent military escalation and Turkish attacks, exert pressure to stop the hostilities, and protect civilians and infrastructure, implementing the provisions of international law and the powers of the Council under the Charter of the United Nations (UN).
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic issue a special briefing on the violations that accompanied the recent military attacks and publish a special report on human rights violations perpetrated across northern Syria by all parties in the conflict.
The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism intensify the collection of evidence so that it is comprehensive and attests to all parties in the conflict and the violations they perpetrated against civilians and civilian objects in northern Syria.
War crimes units in European countries, whose national laws warrant universal jurisdiction, expand structural investigations into international crimes in Syria, to include those committed across the northern parts of the country by all parties in the conflict.
UN agencies and humanitarian organizations intensify relief and humanitarian efforts so that there is an immediate response to the humanitarian needs resulting from the recent military escalation, especially since the attacks have been targeting civilian objects, vital facilities, and infrastructure.
Organizations and Associations Signing the Statement:
Aataa for Relief and Development
Abdaa Organisation for Developmant
Adel Center For Human Rights
Afrin Platform
Ajyal Organizati
Al Birr organization in Qamishli
Al Manarah Organization For Development
Al-Asil Association for Development
Albaghooz Hope for Development
Al-Diyar Society
Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Deve
Allied for Peace Organization
Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
Amal Al-Furat Organisation
Anwar Algad Organaization
Arak of East Organization
ARAS Charity
Areej Organization for Social Development
Arjuan for Human Development
ASHNA for Development
Ashtar Development Organization
Ashti Peacebuilding Center
ASO Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization
Assyrian Society for Helping and Development
Ataa al-Baghouz Organization
Atyaf Development Association
Awda for DEVELOPMENT
Ayadi Moubsra Organization – SoS
Baladna Organization for Civil Society
Balsam Center for Health Education
Bedaya Organization
Better Hope for Al-Tabqa
Better Life Organization
Better Tomorrow Organization
Bridges of Love Organization
Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development
Bzoug Organization for Development
R.O Organization
Center for Defense of Liberties
Center for research and Protection women’s rights in Syria
Civil Community Youth Organization
Cloud Organization
Community Solidarity Organaization
DAN for Relief and Development
Dari Organisation
Deirna Organization for Development
Demos
Development – Seed – Center
Development Without Borders Organization
Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
Documentation Violations Center in Northern Syria
DOZ
DURAT ALFURAT Organization
dyaalaml
Ebdaa organisation for develop ment
Edraak Organization for Development and Peace
Ella Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
Emaar Mansura
ENGINEERING for service’s
Enlil Center
Enma Aljazera Organization
ENMAA Organisation
Ensaf for Development
Euphrates Organization for Relief and Development
EWAS (Environment and Water Association)
Ezdina
M.T – Future Makers Team
Faidh Organisation for Development
Fajr Organization
FDO – Organisation
Fikra Organization
For Them Organisation
FOR YOU Organization
Free Kurdish Women Organization
Friends Charity Association
Furatna for Development
Future Hands Organization
Ghaith Organisation for Development
Green Branch Organization
Green Tress
Green Women’s Association
Hadaf Organaization for Humanitarian
Hajen Technicians Organization
Haneen AlFurat
Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims
Hevy Organisation for Relief and Development
HLD – Association for Development
Holm Organization For Development
Hope Makers
House of Citizenship
Humanity Ray
Inaash Organization for Development
Intensive Care Association
IWAA Organization
Jan center for special needs
Jasmine Association
Jian Charity Association
Jinar for for Development
Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights
Jsor Alamal Organization
Khabour Association
Khutwa Association
Kobani for Relief and Development – (KRD)
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights (Rased)
Kurdish Feminist Voices
Lasting Peace Organizations for Development
Leading Women Organization for Development and Health Care
Lights for development and construction
Maakom for development and Peace
Malva for Arts and Culture
Manara Organization
Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
Media Academy Organization
Mine Action Office
Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
Moltka Alnhren Organization
Nabd Team
Nasmet Amal Organisation
National Syrian Alliance
Nawat Organization
Nextep Organization
Nisaa Alamal Organization
Noun for development and support for women and children
Okaaz Organization
Organization for Feminism
Path Creation Organization
Payam center for mental health and humam development
PCSC – Peace and Civil Society Center
Peace Bridges Organization for Development
Peace Humane Society
Peace Land
Peace Tent
Peace She Leader Network
PÊL- Civil Waves
Peyam Association For Orphan Care
Purity Organization
Qadar Organization
QRD – Organization for Research and Development
Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
Reng Organization for development
Rescue and Relief Team
Restoration Hope Association
Roaamustkbl Organization
Road Organasishn
Roj Kar for relief and development
ROJ Organization for Mine Control (Mine Action).
Rojhilat for Relief and Development
Rose for Support and Empowerment
Sahem Organization for cooperation and development
SAMA Organization
Sanabel Euphrates Organization for Development
Sara organization to combat violence against women
Sawaed Organization for Development
SCSD – Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue
SEl Organization for Development and Empowerment
Shabab Oxygen
Shams Al Ghad
Shams Organisation
Shaqayiq Al Khayr
SHAR for Development
Share for Community Development
Shawshaka Association for Women
Shilan Association for Relife and Development
Shurooq Organisation Development
Silav Center For Civic activities
SMART
Sphere Development Organization
Stability Support Centre
Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
Syria foundation sustainable development
Syria Help Organization
Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
Syrian Cancer Society
Syrian Center for Cevelopment
Syrian House of Renaissance Association
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
Taa marbouta
TARA Organization
Tayif Humanitarian Organization
TEVIN
The Four Seasons Organization
The Kurdish Cultural Association in Denmark
Together for a Bettar Future
Together for Algarnya
Together for Dair Ezzour
Tomorrow Organizations
Tree of Life Organization
Vision
Weqaya Association
Wesal Organsition
Wheat & Olive Platform
Women for Peace
Women Future Organsition for development
Youth for Change
Youth Optimistic
Zakon Organization
Zameen Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
ZIRAK Organization for Development
Zorna Development