For three days, Turkish authorities have been blocking the onward movement of an aid convoy with 25 trucks destined for the besieged northern Syrian city of Kobanê. The vehicles, loaded with water, baby food, clothing, and other essential supplies, were assembled in Amed (Diyarbakır) and have been standing idle at a rest area near Suruç since their arrival—without authorization to proceed.
The aid supplies were collected under the coordination of the Amed Municipal Protection and Solidarity Alliance. Alongside representatives of civil society organizations, officials of the DEM Party are also accompanying the convoy and have been keeping a vigil by the vehicles for days.
Blockade hits the besieged civilian population
Kobanê has been under siege for nearly two weeks. The city, located opposite Suruç, is surrounded by various armed groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), remnants of the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (ISIS), as well as Turkey-aligned jihadist factions and Syrian regime militias. The humanitarian situation in the region is deteriorating day by day.
The Co-Chair of the DEM Party provincial association in Amed, Nihat Demirbilekli, voiced sharp criticism of the blockade policy. “These trucks do not only carry aid supplies—they carry hope, solidarity, and humanity,” Demirbilekli said. “We appeal to the authorities: Open the gates. Kobanê must not be left alone.”
Appeal to the public
Demirbilekli called for broad social solidarity. He said it was shameful that the convoys were being held while children in Kobanê were starving and medical assistance was lacking. “With every passing hour, public outrage continues to grow,” he said. “We demand that the aid reach Kobanê immediately—and we call on everyone to raise their voices.”