As many as 20,000 people displaced in Qamishli clashes: UN

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — As many as 20,000 people were displaced in recent clashes between Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish) and pro-regime forces in northeast Syria (Rojava), United Nations officials have said.  

“While assessments are ongoing, as many as 20,000 people were forced to flee,” the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Syria coordinators said on Wednesday. 

OCHA head Mark Lowcock briefed the UN Security Council on the same day, estimating the number of displaced at more than 15,000.

Three civilians, including two children, were killed during clashes between Asayish and pro-regime National Defense Forces (NDF) in Qamishli, which began on April 20, the UN confirmed. At least four people were injured.

Three days later, the Asayish announced they had reached a 15-hour ceasefire with the NDF after the intervention of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Russians.

The Asayish now Qamishli's controls al-Tai neighborhood, one of several pockets held by the regime in Rojava.

A permanent ceasefire was reached between the two forces on April 25, with civilians returning to the neighbourhood. 

“The protection of civilians remains paramount in all circumstances and the blatant disregard for civilian safety runs contrary to international human rights law,” said the Syrian team. 

Rojava’s Kurdish National Council (ENKS) called for an end to the hostilities four days after clashes broke out, citing the dangers to civilians: “Thousands of families were displaced from the neighborhood to safer places, and many civilians in the neighborhood and neighboring neighborhoods fell as martyrs and were injured by indiscriminate bombardments.”