The U.S., EU, and Russia must address increasing instability and prevent new military operations in Northern Syria
Frequent military threats and hostilities across northern Syria continue to wreak havoc on the region, which is home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled other afflicted Syrian areas.
Hostilities in the region have hiked since early August 2022. Cities, towns, and villages in northern Syria witnessed dozens of attacks, with mortar shells, rockets, aircraft, and drones. Turkey has perpetrated the majority of these attacks.
In July 2022 alone, hostilities killed and injured 31 persons in Tall Tamr, Ayn Issa, Abu Rasin/Zarkan, Ayn al-Arab/Kobanî, Tall Rifaat, and more. These towns and villages were bombarded 75 times at least, with the attacks launched from areas where the Turkish military and their affiliated armed factions are stationed.
Since early 2022, hundreds of military attacks were documented along the frontlines in northern Syria. The attacks killed and injured dozens of civilians in the areas separating the territories held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkish military, armed opposition groups, Russian military, and the Syrian government forces.
Notably, the ongoing hostilities have not deterred Turkey from forcibly returning thousands of Syrian refugees in its territories.
According to official figures issued by Syria-Turkey border crossings, mainly those at Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salameh, and Tal Abyad, Turkey has deported approximately 11,000 Syrian refugees since early 2022, ignoring UN statements that Syria remains unsafe.
Previous military offensives in the region had catastrophic impacts on the area and its people, displacing tens of thousands and leading to numerous human rights violations which have been extensively documented by international organizations and independent UN bodies. Considering this precedent, as well as the worsening situation, the undersigned organizations express their deep concern with the repeated threats of a new military operation in northern Syria and demand that:
UN and Security Council Member States
Establish a ceasefire across Syria, ensure that no party shall violate the ceasefire, and prevent any prospective military offensives in northern Syria that are likely to undermine stability in the region.
Exert pressure to end the forced returns perpetrated against Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon and other countries, act to ensure the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees to their original places of residence, and repudiate plans of demographic change across Syria.
Signatories:
Adil Center for Human Rights
AFRIN PLATFORM
Ajyal Development Organization
Al Aseel Association for Development
Al hayat organization
Al Raja Organization for Relief and Development
Al Saraj Charity Association
ALAHD
Al-Diyar Society
Allied For Peace
Alnawars
Amal al-Furat Organization
Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization(ASO)
Aras Charity
Areej for Development
ASHNA for Development
Association for Restore Hope
Ataa Al-Baghouz Organization
Basha’r al-Khair Organization
Better Hope for Al-Tabqa
Better Life Organization
Bridges of Love
Building Path
Center for Defense of Liberties
Centre for research and protection of women’s rights in Syria
Charity Hajeen
Community Solidarity Organaization
CPDA – for Peace and Dialogue
CSRA AMUDA (MUBDAA)
Daey Alamal
DAN for Relief and Development
Demos
Development Seeds Center
Development Without Borders
Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
DOZ e.V.
EMAAR ALMANSOURA
Enlil Center
Enmaa Alfourat Organization
Eternity
Euphrates.NGO
European and American Solidarity Committee for Afrin – Espoir Afrin.
Fajr
Forerunner 4 Empowerment and Development
Future Hands Organization
Future Makers Team
Future Visions of Development
Ghaith Development Organization
Green Trees Association
Green Women’s Association
Hajin Technicians Organization
HDF humanitarian
Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims
Hevy for relief and development
Hope Makers
House of Citizenship Organisation
Intensive Care Association
IWAA
Jasmine Association
Jian Charitable Society
Jiyan Foundation For Human rights
Jsor al-Amal
Khonaf Association
Khutwa Association
Kobani for Relief and Development
Koma Ava Kirina Afrine
Kurdisch legal Committee
Kurdish International Communittee for Human Rights
Lights for Development and Construction
Manara Organization
Mary for culcher arts
Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
Modem Organization
MRFS – Medical Relief for Syria
Nabd Team
Nawat
Noon for development and support of women and children
Okaz
Peace and civil society center /PCSC
PEACESHE_LEADERSNETWORK
PÊL – CIVIL WAVES
Peyam Association for Orfans Care
Qadar Organization
RADIANCE OF HOPE
Raqqa is our country
Ras al-Ayn/Serê Kaniyê Platform
Reng for development
RojHilat for Relief and Development
Rose for support and empowerment
Sara Organization to Combat Violence Against Woman
Save the Generations
SCSD
Sêl Organization
Share for Community Development
Shawshak Association for Women
Shelan for relife and development
Shorouk Organization for Development
Sighted Hands Organization
Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany
Sphere Organization
Stability Support Center
Swaedna Organization for Relief and Devlopment
Syria Help Organization
Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
Syrian observatory for human rights
Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
Taa marbouta
Tel-Abyed Forum for civil society
TEVIN Association
The civil Cooperation Team Organization
The Four Seasons
The National Organization for Human Rights in Syria
The Syrian Women’s Political Movement
Together for Dirr Ezzor
VDC-NSY
Vision Organization
Weqaya Association
Wheat & Olive Platform
Women for peace
Zameen for Development and Peacebulding.
Zirak for development (Smart Center)
