Kurdish Red Crescent sends aid to Syria’s Druze

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish Red Crescent has sent aid to thousands of Druze families in Syria’s southern province Suwayda, which is still recovering from deadly clashes that broke out this summer.

“We have distributed 3,500 baskets of food there. [Amal] Center is treating 1,500 cancer patients there. Because of the siege, patients cannot go to Damascus for treatment. The patients who receive chemotherapy should continue receiving the treatment uninterrupted. More than a month ago, we began providing for all the medical needs of the 1,500 cancer patients,” Hadiya Abdullah, co-chair of Kurdish Red Crescent, told Rudaw English on Friday. 

“We help the farmers of Suwayda by providing water and fuel so that the agriculture sector is not impacted. We have also distributed 40,000 packs of meals. We have also provided financial support for 100 families who were among the most affected,” she added. 

Clashes broke out on July 13 between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes in Suwayda. The conflict escalated with the involvement of Syrian government forces and Israel before a US-brokered ceasefire was announced on July 19.

Over two months on from the conflict, more than 60 percent of households do not have enough food and only a small number of the 187,000 people who were displaced have returned to their homes, according to the United Nations.

Abdullah said they are installing solar power panels to provide electricity to a vital water well that has not been operating properly because of a lack of power. The project costs $60,000. They also plan to support other hospitals in Suwayda.

Due to restrictions imposed as part of the ceasefire, the aid is not being directly distributed by the Kurdish Red Crescent, but by local volunteers. 

The Women’s Association for Awareness and Empowerment, a northeast Syria (Rojava) based organisation, contributed to the latest shipment of aid sent to Suwayda. 

The aid has mostly been financed through a fundraising campaign in Rojava, where the Kurdish authorities recently donated $1 million to the campaign. 

The Druze community enjoys strong relations with Syria’s Kurds and their most powerful spiritual leader has called for the establishment of a route to connect Suwayda to Rojava. The Kurdish authorities in Rojava have expressed readiness to provide full support for the Druze, especially humanitarian aid.