In a recent interview with Medya News, Sinam Mohamad, US Representative of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Syria, with thousands, including internally displaced persons, forced to flee escalating violence after Al-Qaeda offshoot Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the rebel Syrian National Army (SNA), both backed by Turkey, took control of Aleppo (Heleb) on 27 November. A political solution for Syria must be reached through multi-actor dialogue, Mohamad said, with representatives of the region’s diverse minorities being a critical component of negotiations.
The SDC is the political leadership of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which liberated North and East Syria from ISIS in partnership with the United States and the Global Coalition Against Daesh (ISIS). Mohamad expressed hope that the new US Administration and the coalition will continue to support the Kurdish forces in combating terror and protecting the democratic gains of northern Syria’s autonomous region, known as Rojava.
“The city of Aleppo is a diverse city, religious diversity, and ethnic; Kurdish people, Arabs and Christians, Syriac and Armenian,” she explained. The city, now under the control of HTS, has become a focal point of concern. The Kurdish population in Aleppo, including those displaced from Afrin (Efrîn), now faces the risk of further atrocities and human rights violations.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Tel Rifaat (Til Rifat) and the Shahba (Şehba) refugee camp are being evacuated to a safe region under the control of the AANES, Mohamad explained. “After coordination with many parties there, we could evacuate (..) and move Afrin’s displaced people to northeast Syria’s city of Al-Tabqa.”
“We, as SDC, call on the Kurdish community and friends of the Kurds everywhere to support our Syrian-Kurdish people by protesting, so that their governments can put pressure on Turkey to stop these atrocities,” she continued.
Mohamad emphasised that two key points need to be addressed by the incoming US administration. “It is time for the Trump administration, in the new year, to start involving all the parties in Syria to work towards a political solution,” she stated as the first point. She added, “We are also asking for the protection of minorities in Syria, such as the Kurdish people and Christians, because they will remain under threat if there is no solution for Syria.”
“HTS is a very radical group and their controlling a part of Syria will give the appetite for the sleeper cells of ISIS in northeast Syria to be more active,” Mohamad highlighted.
Mohamad, originally from Afrin (Efrîn), expressed an emotional and profound connection to her homeland. She was forced to leave her country following the 2018 occupation. “When I mention Afrin, I remember my home. I remember the olive trees. Afrin was like a paradise, with its abundance of olive trees, fruits, and everything you could wish for,” she shared. Mohamad explained that Turkey opposes the Kurdish people, aims to prevent their return to Afrin, and seeks to dismantle the Autonomous Administration.
“It is so important for our people to live in peace,” Mohamad concluded, “To bring peace and stability to all of Syria and to our people.”
