Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) has written to the UK Prime Minister to express our grave concern at the escalating violence faced by Kurdish civilians in northern and north east Syria, and to urge the UK government to take immediate and decisive action.
Kurdish-majority areas — including Kobani and the Jazira region — are experiencing renewed instability amid clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Despite reports of a ceasefire, civilians continue to face shelling, displacement, and severe restrictions on access to food, water, and medical care.
Detention and displacement camps at heightened risk
We are especially alarmed by developments in and around key detention and displacement sites including al Hol and al Aqtan camps, which are now under new control.
These facilities house thousands of vulnerable civilians, including women and children, as well as detainees linked to ISIS. Any further destabilisation risks a humanitarian catastrophe and poses serious regional and international security concerns.
Kurdish communities must not be abandoned
Kurdish communities in northern Syria have played a decisive role in the fight against ISIS. Their leadership was critical in defeating the so-called caliphate and containing its remnants.
It is deeply troubling that these same communities are now facing renewed violence and abandonment at a moment of acute vulnerability.
Our call to the UK government
In our letter to the Prime Minister, SPOT urges the UK government to act immediately to:
Protect civilians from further violence and displacement
Ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to affected areas
Uphold the safety and security of vulnerable populations, including those held in detention and displacement camps
Press UK allies — including the United States, Turkey and Israel — to cease all support for attacks carried out by HTS
We also call on the government to ensure that:
Attacks on Kurdish civilians are raised during FCDO Questions in Parliament The situation is addressed directly by the Foreign Secretary The UK supports independent international monitoring of developments on the ground Any UK engagement with Syria is conditional on the protection and political inclusion of Kurds and other minority communities
Human rights and international law must be upheld
Failure to act risks further civilian suffering and undermines the UK’s stated commitment to human rights, international law and regional stability.
We urge the Prime Minister to use the UK’s diplomatic influence to press for the protection of Kurdish civilians and to ensure humanitarian and political solutions are prioritised over further violence.
