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Kurds Back Protests in Syria’s Sweida, Daraa

From Protests in Busra al-Sham, Southern Syria (AFP)
From Protests in Busra al-Sham, Southern Syria (AFP)
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Kurds Back Protests in Syria’s Sweida, Daraa

From Protests in Busra al-Sham, Southern Syria (AFP)
From Protests in Busra al-Sham, Southern Syria (AFP)

The Kurdish National Council (KNC) and the Syrian Democratic Council (the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)) have declared their full support for the protesters in various cities and provinces of Syria, expressing solidarity with the protests organized by the residents of Sweida and Daraa provinces in the southern part of the country.

These stances from the two poles of the political movement in northeastern Syria come as these protests enter their second week.

The city of Raqqa in the northern part of the country, along with several towns in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor and the city of Qamishli in Hasakah province in the far northeast of Syria, have witnessed supportive gatherings and condemning demonstrations against the government’s decision to lift subsidies on fuel and oil derivatives.

This decision has led to a sharp decline in the Syrian pound against foreign currencies, exacerbating the economic and living conditions.

The KNC, a broad political alliance of opposition Kurdish parties and forces, expressed its solidarity “with the Syrian people and its support for the demands of the residents of Sweida and Daraa for freedom, dignity, and decent human life.”

In a statement released on Friday, the council called upon the United Nations, the Arab League, and the international community to compel the Syrian government to pursue a “political resolution” that would alleviate the Syrians’ sufferings and tragedies and achieve security and stability.

Faisal Youssef, a member of the KNC’s presidential body, affirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the KNC stands in solidarity with the uprising for the right to live with freedom and dignity in Sweida, as well as in various afflicted parts of Syria.

“Slogans raised by the protesters affirm that what is happening is an expression of the collective will of the Syrian people, encompassing all its components and sects,” said Youssef.

He emphasized the “urgent need to bring about radical change, end tyranny, implement UN Resolution 2254, and build a democratic and pluralistic Syria for all Syrians.”

 

 

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Northern Gaza Residents: Stuck in Open Air Living

Gazan families receive no more than 50 liters of water daily in Beit Lahia Camp (AP)
Gazan families receive no more than 50 liters of water daily in Beit Lahia Camp (AP)
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Northern Gaza Residents: Stuck in Open Air Living

Gazan families receive no more than 50 liters of water daily in Beit Lahia Camp (AP)
Gazan families receive no more than 50 liters of water daily in Beit Lahia Camp (AP)

The return of Palestinian refugees from southern Gaza to the north has been difficult, especially due to the extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in the area. Many residents, who had hoped for better conditions than life in tents, have found little relief.

After months of living in tents during the Israeli conflict, they returned to the north only to find few homes available, with some even unable to find space to set up their tents.

The return of nearly 800,000 displaced people to northern Gaza has created significant challenges for the Hamas-led Gaza government. The situation has revealed unexpected difficulties, particularly as Israel has not yet kept its promise to deliver much-needed relief supplies, such as tents and caravans.

The sight of massive destruction has overshadowed the living conditions in Jabalia Camp and the towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun for many returning residents.

This has forced local authorities, according to sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, to expand bulldozing efforts in several key areas, increasing the space available for tents to shelter residents.

However, the task has been complicated by the difficulty of acquiring the necessary equipment to clear rubble and debris.

Mohammed Abu Obeid, a resident of Jabalia Camp, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the situation worsened when authorities were unable to provide sufficient water for residents.

This has led people to rely on water deliveries via trucks, which transport large amounts from Gaza City to the camp. The goal is to provide each family with approximately 50 liters of water daily, but Abu Obeid noted that this amount is hardly enough.

Abu Obeid pointed out that residents are unable to find any nearby power sources. As night falls, they are forced to remain in their tents or, for those who still have homes or managed to salvage a room from heavily damaged buildings, stay there with their families.

“We didn’t expect life to be this grim, this full of hell,” he remarked.

Suhad Abu Hussein, a resident of the camp, shared that she spent her first night back in northern Gaza sleeping in the open.

She waited until the second day, when technical teams managed to clear a small portion of rubble which allowed them to begin setting up available tents.

Hussein explained that she is currently living in a tent just three meters in size. However, she faces significant challenges due to the lack of water and any power source, leaving residents in complete darkness without even basic street lighting.

Gaza’s municipality has warned that the lack of services will make life even harder for displaced people returning to their areas.

They explained that the water supply only covers 40% of the city, and the water available doesn’t meet the residents’ needs due to damage to water networks. More than 75% of the city's central wells have been destroyed.

The municipality stressed that it cannot provide even basic services to the displaced without heavy machinery. It urgently needs equipment to repair wells and sewage networks. Despite limited resources, efforts continue to clear streets and remove rubble to help the displaced return and allow residents to move around.

Israel has blocked the entry of heavy machinery, tents, caravans, and other supplies. Hamas has been in talks with mediators to address these restrictions.

Ahmed Al-Asi, a young man from Beit Lahia, affirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat there are no bakeries in his town or in Jabalia Camp.

He has to travel more than 6 kilometers to Gaza City’s Nasr neighborhood every day to buy bread for his family of 18, spending about 40 shekels ($12) daily.