Kurdish child dies in the besieged town of Kobane: Family

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An eight-month-old child died in the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria earlier this week, the family told Rudaw. This comes as the Syrian government’s siege on the city nears a month despite a comprehensive agreement between Damascus and Kurdish forces. 

Khufra Mohammed told Rudaw on Wednesday that one of her grandchildren suddenly fell ill. She believes the lack of food, caused by the ongoing siege, led to her previously healthy grandchild becoming sick.

The eight-month-old child was taken to hospital several times, but doctors could not save his life. He died in a private hospital on Tuesday, Mohammed said. 

The family had lived in Raqqa city for half a century, but the Syrian Arab Army and affiliated forces attacked the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa and other Arab-majority areas and seized them. Mohammed and her family fled Raqqa to Kobane, fearing for her life as dozens of Kurds were reportedly killed by the army and affiliated fighters. 

The grandmother described their condition as “dire” and said she and nearly 50 other families live in a “dirty” hospital which has not been turned into a shelter. 

Late last month, the SDF and the Syrian government announced an internationally brokered agreement aimed at ending hostilities and integrating Rojava’s civil and military institutions under state authority.

Despite the deal, Kobane has remained under a strict siege for more than three weeks, raising alarm over deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

The United States on Wednesday urged the restoration of basic services to Kobane.

“The United States continues to reiterate the obligation of all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. We welcome the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance,” the spokesperson told Rudaw. “We emphasize that these corridors must be maintained and that basic services must be resumed in the city of Kobane.”