{"id":126894,"date":"2025-07-01T08:13:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T08:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=126894"},"modified":"2025-07-01T08:13:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T08:13:13","slug":"agreement-raises-hope-for-health-services-in-kurdish-neighborhoods-of-aleppo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/126894\/","title":{"rendered":"Agreement raises hope for health services in Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Saleh Salim<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) \u2013<\/strong> Following years of siege and suffering in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo, northwestern Syria, residents and local officials are expressing cautious optimism over a new agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Transitional Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 14-point agreement signed between SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria’s Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa on March 10 centers on joint coordination in the provision of health and technical services to improve daily life for the local population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, these neighborhoods were administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) through local councils responsible for basic services and support to hospitals and health centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years of blockade and suffering<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Othman Sheikh Issa, Co-Chair of the Health Council in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, recalls a prolonged period of siege imposed by the former regime, especially after the start of the anti-government protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBasic services, most critically healthcare, came to a standstill,\u201d he said, noting that the government provided virtually no support despite severe damage to infrastructure during the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheikh Issa called on the Syrian Transitional Government in Aleppo to take the new agreement seriously and implement its provisions without delay. \u201cAs the health sector,\u201d he told North Press, \u201cwe also hope there will be no barriers or concerns that could hinder the development of this agreement\u2019s mechanisms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During past years, Assad regime forces repeatedly besieged Kurdish areas by cutting off access roads and blocking the entry of fuel and essential goods. The Fourth Division\u2014formerly led by Maher al-Assad, brother of the ousted president Bashar al-Assad\u2014imposed heavy tolls on medicine and food shipments into the neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Health Council of the two neighborhoods is now urging the Aleppo Health Directorate to take tangible steps toward implementing the agreement, which could meaningfully improve residents\u2019 quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weak coordination, unfulfilled provisions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the formal agreement, Sheikh Issa notes that communication with official health authorities remains weak. \u201cSo far, there has been no formal communication between the Health Council in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh,\u201d he said, although limited coordination exists with the directorate\u2019s First District branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No joint committees or meetings have yet been held to initiate a unified framework for integrating or coordinating health services between the local health sector and government structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Health Council seeks to be integrated into the broader structure of the Directorate, particularly in terms of the annual health budget for Aleppo. Sheikh Issa emphasized the need for this funding to include the densely populated areas of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continued services despite challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the initial implementation of some agreement provisions, Aleppo health officials under the transitional government have yet to comment publicly on healthcare in the Kurdish neighborhoods. However, Dr. Firas Dahimash, Head of Public Health Programs in Aleppo, confirmed to North Press that services have never ceased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Aleppo Health Directorate has never ceased providing services to all neighborhoods,\u201d Dahimash said. “We are still operating our health centers including the Ashrafiyeh Health Center and the Diabetes Center.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We also have a medical point in Sheikh Maqsoud,” he added. “These facilities continue to receive medicine and vaccination teams along with treatment for leishmaniasis.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 1, Badran Chiya Kurd, a senior official in the AANES, announced an administrative, security, and service agreement between the Kurdish Neighborhood Council in Aleppo and the Syrian transitional government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement affirms the distinct status of the Kurdish neighborhoods, protecting their security, administrative, service, cultural, and political identity. It also outlines mechanisms for collaboration with the relevant security and service institutions in Aleppo to ensure its successful implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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