International Red Cross statement politicizes humanitarian aid, AANES

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an attempt to politicize humanitarian support and give aid to only those associated with the “Syrian regime”, the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said on Tuesday. 

The AANES had seen a statement of the ICRC, through Christophe Martin, the head of ICRC’s delegation in Syria, on Monday, about the incidents taking place in the city of Hasakah, the AANES said. 

Since January 20, the vicinity of Hasakah’s al-Sina’a prison has been witnessing sporadic clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and ISIS cells following an ISIS attack on the prison in an attempt to achieve a successful mass escape of the ISIS detainees. 

The Department of Foreign Relations sees the ICRC statement as an “attempt to politicize humanitarian support and limit aid to the parties affiliated with the Syrian regime whose actual control limits do not exceed the security square inside the city.” 

“It seems that the ICRC has forgotten that the Autonomous Administration and its Boards and entities have mobilized for five days to provide support and assistance in response to the needs of civilians from the residents of Guweiran and al-Zohour neighborhoods, despite the lack of capabilities,” it added. 

“The attempts of the ICRC to appease the regime in Damascus is a violation of its principles that it adopted, and this deliberate politicization of the tragedy does not serve the needy and those affected by the armed conflict,” the statement noted.

“The Autonomous Administration institutions and all its security and military forces are committed to international humanitarian law, and its medical and relief teams were established to serve the needs of the Syrian people without discrimination and without politicizing the suffering of the population,” it added.