Kobane, isolated from the world: how our teams joined the first humanitarian convoys

Syria – early 2026

In the north-east of Syria, the city of Kobane – symbol of Kurdish resistance against the Islamic State in 2015 – has just been surrounded and plunged into darkness.

Since January 21, its population, already weakened by years of conflict and swollen by thousands of people displaced by recent fighting, has been living without electricity, water, internet, or fuel. An exceptionally harsh winter – with unprecedented snowfall and persistent icy winds – is further exacerbating the situation.

In this crisis context, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL was able to support the first two humanitarian convoys that successfully reached Kobane. This intervention was carried out under very difficult conditions, with a total lack of communication with the city’s population.

Collapse in north-eastern Syria

At the end of December, tensions in the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo rose abruptly. Nearly 110,000 people fled to Afrin, a Kurdish town near Aleppo, to escape the violence, and many were able to find shelter with family members there. Collective reception centers were set up urgently, and SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL distributed basic necessities kits.

In mid-January, after months of unsuccessful negotiations, the Damascus army announced its intention to retake the areas controlled by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria up to the Euphrates River. But finally advancing beyond the river, Syrian forces quickly took control of the provinces of Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor, before reaching the gates of Kobane and Hassakeh. The UN recorded 157,000 people who had fled the army’s advancement. While Hassakeh was still able to obtain supplies thanks to its access to Iraqi Kurdistan, Kobane, located on the Turkish border, found itself cut off from all sources of supply.

Kobane: from symbolic city to besieged city

Kobane – officially known as Aïn al-Arab – remains a highly symbolic place. In 2015, its citizens and Kurdish forces resisted the Islamic State for nine months. Today, the city is experiencing another nightmare.

As Syrian troops advance, thousands of families from surrounding villages are fleeing to the city center, terrified by the artillery fire and kamikaze drones reported in the area. Kobane is quickly becoming cut off from the world.

It is taking too long to set up reception centers: some families are sleeping in the snowy streets while others are sleeping in their cars. They are then relocated to damaged buildings with broken windows and no thermal insulation. The water supply, which was already under pressure, cannot cope with the influx of people. The electricity supply has been cut off, stopping the pumping stations. The already fragile infrastructure is collapsing one after the other.

48 hours to organize a humanitarian convoy

On Friday, January 23, the UN announced the opening of a humanitarian corridor between Aleppo and Kobane, calling on NGOs to mobilize immediately.

Saturday, January 24: in Aleppo, the team urgently purchased essential supplies:

• 1,000 mattresses and blankets
• 500 ready-to-eat food kits (canned vegetables, chickpeas, meat, tuna, etc.), providing enough food for a family of five for five days.

In Raqqa, Matthieu Cazottes, field coordinator, organizes the reception with the teams present in Kobane. The situation is extremely difficult for these seven colleagues, who are also under siege and suffering from cuts to water, electricity and the internet, but the work continues.

Sunday, January 25: a convoy of 24 trucks leaves Aleppo, including seven chartered by SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL. The journey, which usually lasts three hours, takes nine hours. Some sections of road have to be demined, numerous checkpoints causing delays, and the snow-covered roads are difficult to drive on.

The convoy finally reached Kobane in the evening. Our colleagues on site spent part of the night unloading. “We had no information. No network coverage. We were moving forward almost minute by minute. Our teams showed extraordinary courage” testifies Laureen Larrieu, field coordinator for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL.

The very next day, 2,000 people received this essential aid to help them face the cold and hunger.

On February 5, a second convoy arrived in Kobane, including a tanker truck carrying 10,000 liters of fuel needed to restore electricity and provide minimal access to drinking water.

At the same time, our teams are supplying 22 reception centers with water, distributing 180 m³ in just a few days.

Although the situation appears to be stabilizing for the moment, Kobane remains largely isolated. Roads are still partially closed and essential services are largely out of commission. Our teams remain mobilized, day and night, to assist the most vulnerable families.

Photos: © SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL