On Wednesday, President Masoud Barzani thanked the citizens of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for their sincere and generous response in “gathering aid and assistance for our brothers and sisters in Western Kurdistan (northern Syria).”

“This historic stance is a source of great pride and heartfelt appreciation.”

Since the conflict between Kurdish fighters and Damascus began last month, numerous aid campaigns have been launched in the Kurdistan Region to support aid efforts in West Kurdistan.

Notably, the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) has been a source of significant aid to northern Syria since January 21.

“I also convey my sincere thanks and gratitude to the BCF, and to all organizations, institutions, public figures, and media outlets that contributed to collecting relief assistance and essential supplies for our brothers and sisters in Western Kurdistan,” he said.

“I highly value their efforts and dedication; they have fulfilled their national and patriotic duty in the finest manner. There is no doubt that such a stance strengthens national solidarity and helps deepen our collective national consciousness.

“Once again, the people of Kurdistan have proven to the world that the sons and daughters of Kurdistan stand together in times of both joy and hardship, always supporting and assisting one another.”

According to the latest update on Wednesday, the BCF has delivered 321 trucks full of food and non-food items to Western Kurdistan. It has distributed 59,375 food packages, ensuring access to basic nutrition for thousands of households.

A total of 8,908 families have directly benefited from various humanitarian assistance programs implemented by the foundation, while 325,582 liters of fuel have been delivered to assist families, particularly in areas facing harsh weather and limited resources.

On the healthcare front, the BCF has supplied 5,582 medical kits to health facilities and medical teams.

A deal was reached between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on January 30 to stop the fighting and to integrate the SDF into the new Syrian army. However, displaced Kurdish civilians in the area still live in dire conditions.

Furthermore, the town of Kobani is still without water and electricity, depending on generators and suffering from the lack of fuel and supplies in markets, such as vegetables and baby formula.

According to a report from the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, hundreds of displaced people from Raqqa’s Kurdish population in al-Hasakah Governorate that are sheltering in Derik and Qamishli continue to live in harsh conditions, forced to sleep in schools and mosques that lack even the most basic necessities amid the absence of sustainable solutions or comprehensive relief plans.

At the same time, local sources reported the continuation of looting of Kurdish property in the cities of Raqqa and Ayn Issa by factions affiliated with the transitional government, preventing residents from returning to their homes and deepening their humanitarian and economic suffering.

In a report published on January 31, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that over 190,000 individuals from Aleppo, al-Hasakah, and Raqqa governorates have been displaced since early January. Out of these, 146,000 have arrived in al-Hasakah Governorate, with 98,000 hosted in Qamishli and 32,000 in Derik.