Civilians in Crisis: Fighting, Displacement, and the Fight for Peace in Northeast Syria

Situation in Northeast Syria – 2024‑2029

• Violence and insecurity
  • The Syrian government, its allies and Daesh (ISIS) keep fighting in the north‑east.
  • The government’s 2026 offensive in Aleppo killed civilians, displaced 148 000 people and damaged homes, roads and hospitals.
  • The fighting spread to Raqqa, Al‑Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, Kobani and Qamishli, putting the region under severe strain.
  • The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the government accuse each other of attacking oil fields, dams and civilian buildings.
  • Daesh still causes destruction and has escaped from camps after recent clashes.

• Humanitarian crisis
  • About 400 000 people in the area have no electricity, water, food or medical care.
  • More than 250 000 people in Kobani are at risk because the city is under siege.
  • The UN says 170 000 people are internally displaced in Aleppo, Al‑Hasakah and Raqqa, many of them women, girls and children.
  • Winter makes the situation worse; people need shelter, food, clean water, health care and protection.
  • Two new humanitarian corridors have opened, but access is still limited by damaged roads, mines and security risks.

• Ceasefire and political steps
  • On 30 January 2026 the SDF and the Syrian transitional government signed an agreement to keep a fragile ceasefire, to integrate SDF forces into the national army and police, and to hand over prisons, oil and gas fields to the government.
  • The agreement also guarantees civil and educational rights for Kurdish communities.
  • The EU and the US have been mediating, but Turkey’s military actions in the region continue to threaten the ceasefire and civilian safety.

• Kurdish rights
  • President al‑Sharaa issued a decree on 16 January 2026 granting Syrian citizenship to Kurdish residents, recognising Kurdish as a national language and banning discrimination.
  • The EU stresses that the Kurdish community must have equal rights, political participation and protection from violence.

• Daesh detainees
  • Kurdish‑led authorities guard many former Daesh fighters, but there is no clear international plan for their future.
  • Some detainees have escaped; the exact number is unknown.
  • The EU warns that moving detainees to Iraq or other countries without proper safeguards risks new security threats.
  • EU nationals are among the detainees, raising European security concerns.

• EU actions and conditions
  • The EU is one of the largest donors to Syria, offering about €620 million for 2026‑27 and €150 million from its financial cushion for the next two years.
  • The EU has eased some sanctions on Syria but keeps aid conditional on progress in civilian protection, respect for ceasefires, human rights and minority rights.
  • The EU calls for more humanitarian aid, psychosocial support, protection for women and human‑rights defenders, and for the creation of safe, permanent humanitarian corridors.
  • The EU urges all parties to stop military actions that could spark new violence and to respect Syria’s territorial integrity.

• Key demands
  • Immediate investigations into killings, disappearances, arbitrary detention and attacks on civilians.
  • Full access for UN bodies and independent investigators.
  • Protection for women, children and vulnerable groups, especially in Kobani and other besieged towns.
  • Strengthened diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the conflict and to support a peaceful, inclusive political transition.
  • Clear rules for the management of Daesh detainees, with accountability and fair trials.
  • Continued EU support for reconstruction, job creation, capacity building and early recovery, with predictable, multi‑year funding.

The resolution calls on all actors—Syria, the SDF, Turkey, the EU, the US and other partners—to work together to end violence, protect civilians, uphold human rights, and build a stable, inclusive future for all communities in Northeast Syria.