Distribution of first batch of masks to Kobani residents for free

Kobani – North-Press Agency

Fattah Issa – Fayad Muhammad

On Saturday, Kongra-STAR (a confederation of women's organizations in Rojava) in the Euphrates region began distributing the first batch of medical masks free of charge to the residents of Kobani.

Fidan Yousef, head of the Women’s Economy Department in Kongra-STAR in the Euphrates region, told North-Press that they distributed 3,500 medical masks to residents and shop owners in markets and streets that witness movement for citizens such as al-Telal Street, al-Sinaa neighborhood, al-Alban Street, and the vegetable market (al-Hal Market).

She noted that the organization will distribute other batches of masks in the coming days.

The cost of one mask is around 150 Syrian pounds, where raw materials are brought from Syrian government-held areas, and taxes are imposed on the imported materials by the checkpoints and crossings.

Youssef indicated that about 12 women who are members of Kongra STAR are participating in the campaign to distribute medical masks.

On April 10th, the organization in the Euphrates region began producing medical masks in a small special workshop that was equipped to find a solution to the problem of severe mask shortages in the region caused by the emergence of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

According to a previous statement by the co-chair of the Health Board in the Euphrates region Ahmad Mahmoud, the Health Board sterilizes the masks in a scientific manner under the supervision of specialists before distributing them to citizens.