Peregraf - Kamaran Osman, a member of Community Peacemaker Teams–Iraqi Kurdistan (CPT-IK) currently in Rojava, says Syrian government forces and the Turkish army are increasingly targeting humanitarian NGOs across northeastern Syria, including the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC).
Osman said met yesterday afternoon with Hadiya Abdullah, Director of the Kurdish Red Crescent, to discuss a recent suicide drone strike on KRC’s main headquarters and what he described as repeated violations against the organization’s staff.
According to CPT-IK, three KRC members were arrested on January 8 by Syrian government forces while providing medical assistance to civilians wounded in Aleppo. Osman said they were beaten, tortured, and detained.
He added that another KRC staff member, Tahir Rakan Tahir, was injured and then kidnapped during an evacuation in Aleppo. In recent days, Osman said the militia holding him contacted his family and demanded $50,000 for his return, without confirming whether he is alive or dead.
Osman also reported that Turkish armed forces carried out a suicide drone attack on January 21 at 12:09 a.m. targeting KRC’s main headquarters. The strike reportedly came hours after Kurdish civilians from Nusaybin crossed into Qamishlo to support relatives, with Turkish forces using tear gas to push them back. At the time of the attack, Osman said 12 injured civilians were receiving medical care inside the office, including bedridden patients.
In addition to the drone strike, Osman said 16 KRC offices have been raided by Syrian government forces and unidentified militia groups, with equipment stolen and six ambulances confiscated.
He warned that the Kurdish Red Crescent is not the only organization affected, claiming at least seven other local NGOs have also been attacked during the recent escalation in northeastern Syria.
CPT-IK said it continues monitoring and documenting human rights violations in Rojava through its field presence.