The Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurd) announced that it has lost contact with one of its staff members. Tahir Rakan Tahir has been missing since January 18. He was traveling from Raqqa to Hesekê as part of a humanitarian mission to deliver aid supplies to civilians affected by the war.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Kurdish Red Crescent expressed grave concern over the fate of its staff member. There are indications that medical teams and civilian convoys in the region are being deliberately targeted by armed groups affiliated with the Syrian transitional government. It is therefore feared that Tahir may have been the victim of a targeted attack—possibly injured or abducted.
“We call on any person or institution that has information about the whereabouts of Tahir Rakan Tahir, or about the party holding him, to contact us immediately. The deliberate targeting of medical and humanitarian personnel constitutes a serious violation of international law and may be considered a war crime,” the statement said.
The Kurdish Red Crescent holds the so-called transitional government in Damascus directly responsible for the safety of medical personnel in conflict zones. It stated that the transitional government bears “full responsibility for the fate of our colleague.” The organization demands the immediate clarification of his whereabouts and measures to secure his release and safe return.
In conclusion, Heyva Sor a Kurd appealed to all relevant actors in the region and to the international public to contribute to clarifying the case and not to remain silent in the face of attacks on humanitarian workers.
