U.N. warns water, fuel shortages persist in Kobani
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday that basic services in the city of Kobani, northern Syria, remain heavily disrupted, with water networks operating only partially on diesel generators and hospitals and bakeries functioning with limited fuel supplies.
The statement followed the announcement that a UN-led assessment mission entered Kobani this week for the first time since clashes erupted there last January.
OCHA said the UN Department of Safety and Security carried out an assessment mission in the city, while local humanitarian teams reported that “the situation is relatively calm but remains fragile.”
The agency added that the United Nations and its partners had previously delivered two aid convoys comprising 52 trucks, in addition to deploying a mobile clinic. It noted that “Goods and fuel are entering through limited commercial routes, though not at the scale needed.”
According to OCHA’s partners on the ground, public electricity service was restored to the city on Feb. 9.
However, the agency warned that “Water, sanitation and hygiene conditions are a key concern, with some families relying on unsafe water sources, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases.”
OCHA added that further assessment missions are planned in the coming period to more accurately determine the population’s needs.