“ISIS sees the embargo against Rojava as an opportunity”

From all sides, Rojava is sealed off from the surrounding regions by an embargo. This blockade particularly affects the economy of the autonomous regions of northern and eastern Syria. But the crisis could play into the hands of the terrorist militia ISIS. ANF spoke with Abdulkarim Omar, the foreign affairs officer of the autonomous administration, about the effects of the economic blockade.

What is the current development of the embargo against northern and eastern Syria and how does it affect the economic situation?

Around five million people live in the regions of the autonomous areas. Some of them are refugees and immigrants living in camps. Our refugee community consists mainly of internally displaced people who have been forced to leave their homes due to the occupation of areas such as Afrin, Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî by the Turkish state. But we also host tens of thousands of refugees from other parts of Syria because they feel safe here.

As a region, we have big economic problems due to the embargo, the siege and the closure of the border crossings by the Syrian regime. Only one border crossing is still open for international aid. We are also suffering damage because of the Caesar Act [US sanctions law on Syria introduced in 2019 by former US President Donald Trump]. Because in our regions, the Syrian lira is used as a means of payment. The Caesar Act thus negatively affects the lives of the people here. In addition, the economic infrastructure of the region has been destroyed by ten years of war. If you put all this together, you can see that we are in a very difficult phase.

Rojava keeps making diplomatic efforts to open the Til Koçer (ar. Al-Yarubiyah) border crossing from Iraq to northeastern Syria for international aid. What are the consequences of closing the border crossing?

The economic problems we are talking about have a big impact on ISIS and terror in general. We have developed many economic and service projects, for example in agriculture, education or health, to put an end to ISIS ideology. Especially in regions like Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, which were under ISIS rule for years. The embargo against us and the closure of the Til Koçer border crossing, which was used for importing international aid, do not allow us to develop further projects. Damascus does not allow humanitarian aid to enter the region.

Considered in this light, the international community should consider providing economic support to the autonomous areas. This includes exempting northern and eastern Syria from the Caesar Act. We should also not be denied international support for our regional service projects. Similarly, the decision to close the Til Koçer border crossing should be reconsidered. The international community can also propose an alternative solution to us. It is important to find a way to provide assistance to the region. If necessary, aid could be shifted to Sêmalka and other crossings. Both the West and the international anti-ISIS coalition must find a solution. Otherwise, the economic situation in the region will deteriorate further in the near future.

You said the embargo would benefit ISIS and other jihadist groups. How is this issue discussed in talks with the international anti- ISIS coalition?

As soon as economic problems arise in northern and eastern Syria, ISIS sees this as an opportunity to reorganise and mobilise its sleeper cells. This is an extremely serious matter. ISIS sees emergencies as an opportunity and could regain a foothold in those regions of the autonomous areas from which it was driven out. This is what we bring up in all our diplomatic discussions. Whether it is meetings with delegations and international organisations, online conferences or consultations after the ISIS attack on the Sina prison in Hesekê; this issue is at the core of our discussions.

In a meeting of our department with a delegation of the US State Department a few hours ago, this was also the main topic. We explained that we cannot end terrorism only militarily. If we really want to eliminate terror completely, help is needed in many areas. In terms of the economic situation, we need to constantly stress the need for an alternative route for humanitarian aid past the closed crossings, as well as the exemption of our region from the Caesar Act. This is a struggle and we will continue all our political and diplomatic efforts until it shows results. 

What is the position of the government in Damascus on this issue?

The Syrian regime has closed its border crossings with the intention of creating problems and building up pressure on the Autonomous Administration. Even the attempted storming of Sina prison was used by Damascus to create contradictions between the Autonomous Administration and the population. The economic embargo is meant to create more and more problems for us. We keep bringing this up as well. Every day we say that the regime is using international organisations’ aid to Syria as political leverage.

The aid intended for the population does not arrive. The government in Damascus does allow aid organisations access to Hol or the Roj camp, where the families of ISIS jihadists are housed. However, this mechanism does not apply to the camps with displaced people from Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî. The Syrian regime itself notes that the people there became refugees after the Turkish occupation of their homes. But humanitarian aid for these camps is not allowed. The government in Damascus is doing everything to destabilise the region.   

The Sêmalka border crossing, which had been closed by the KDP, was recently reopened. After the opening, it was spread that the embargo on Rojava was over. How do you see this?

Not everything can pass through the Sêmalka border crossing. It is not an international border crossing like Til Koçer. It is mainly used to handle trade between northern and eastern Syria and southern Kurdistan. This is not enough to meet the needs of the region. Therefore, the international community should urgently reconsider the decision to have the Til Koçer border crossing closed by the United Nations Security Council due to a veto by China. The crossing must be opened, and aid must be brought to the region. Otherwise, we need an alternative. If it remains like this, the situation will have a negative impact on the regional population and play into the hands of terror.