Newroz Rasho, a Kurdish journalist from the Afrin (Efrîn) region of northwestern Syria, was honoured with the 23rd annual David Burke Distinguished Journalism Awards for her “dedication to providing reliable and accurate news while navigating life in a Syrian camp for internally displaced people”.
Rasho, who has contributed to the Voice of America’s Kurdish Service for seven years, has been recognised for her courageous and detailed reporting from the Shahba (Şehba) region in the countryside north of Aleppo, a refuge for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Afrin since 2018, due to Turkish military operations which forced displacement of the Kurdish population.
“In the face of adversity, reporting from northern Syria has not only been a professional task but a personal one, driven by the experiences of those around me,” Rasho stated during an interview with North Press. She described how the brutal realities of life under Turkish occupation in Afrin and in the IDP camps inspired her to voice the struggles and resilience of the local women and their communities.
Rasho’s journalism journey began amidst personal tragedy during the Turkish military operation known as Olive Branch, which led to the death of her father in a Turkish air strike, and she herself becoming an internally displaced person. The loss of her father fuelled her commitment to convey the “silenced voices of Afrin IDPs” to the international community. She dedicated her award to “the women, children and trees of my occupied city, Afrin.”
I have the honor of receiving the ‘Burke Distinguished Journalists Award’ from @USAGMgov.
My heartful thanks to the entire @VoaKurdi @VoaKurdish team for supporting me.
I dedicate this award to the women, children and trees of my occupied city, #Afrin. https://t.co/rQlmOKu1Xg— Newroz Reşo (@newroz_reso) May 11, 2024
The David Burke Distinguished Journalism Awards, named after the founding chairman of the US Agency for Global Media, celebrate journalistic integrity, bravery and professionalism across USAGM networks each year. Rasho’s recognition highlights the significant role journalists play in shedding light on under-reported global issues, particularly the human rights violations faced by vulnerable populations.
