Erbil Governor Announces Launch of “Erbil” Campaign to Support and Aid Those Affected in Syrian Kurdistan
ARK News.. Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw announced the launch of the expanded “Erbil” campaign to collect humanitarian and financial assistance to support and aid those affected and displaced in Syrian Kurdistan.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Khoshnaw said the Kurdistan Region bears a major responsibility toward supporting Western Kurdistan amid the difficult conditions faced by the population there. He stressed that Syrian Kurdistan is in urgent need of a broad humanitarian show of solidarity, foremost from the people of the Kurdistan Region.
The governor explained that the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region, led by President Masoud Barzani, has mobilized all efforts in recent days to halt the cycle of war and destruction and to ensure that Kurds in Western Kurdistan secure their rights and gains in Syria’s future.
Khoshnaw called on religious leaders of all faiths, civil society organizations, and the general public to actively participate in the campaign. He also specifically appealed to the Erbil Chamber of Commerce, contractors’ unions, investors, exporters and importers, and private companies, expressing confidence in the generosity of Erbil’s residents.
The campaign administration identified three urgent priority needs: medical supplies and medicines; food parcels and basic provisions; and shelter materials, including mattresses, blankets, and tents.
Khoshnaw stressed that all donated in-kind items must be new and unused to ensure assistance that respects the dignity of the displaced.
In a related context, the governor urged citizens wishing to express solidarity to donate through designated collection centers rather than gathering outside consulates or blocking roads, emphasizing that the campaign represents the most effective and reliable means of delivering aid safely and transparently through specialized teams.
The campaign officially began at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday and will continue as long as humanitarian needs persist.
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Kurdish National Council: Siege Has Led to Severe Deterioration of Living and Humanitarian Conditions in Kobani
ARK News.. The Kobani Local Council of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria has issued an urgent humanitarian appeal, warning that the ongoing siege has caused a serious deterioration in the living and humanitarian conditions of civilians in the city.
The council stated that Kobani is suffering from acute shortages of basic food supplies, medicines, flour for bakeries, and medical equipment, in addition to fuel scarcity, water cuts, electricity outages, and the absence of the most basic necessities of life. It warned that these conditions pose a direct threat to the lives of children, women, the elderly, and the sick.
Full Text of the Appeal:
Urgent Humanitarian Appeal
Amid the catastrophic and worsening humanitarian conditions in the Kurdish region of Kobani in Syria, the Kobani Local Council of the Kurdish National Council in Syria strongly condemns the suffocating siege imposed by Syrian government forces on the area. This siege constitutes a flagrant violation of international laws, norms, and humanitarian conventions, foremost among them international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the starvation of civilians and the use of sieges as a means of collective punishment.
This unjust siege has led to a severe deterioration in the living and humanitarian conditions of the civilian population. The region is facing acute shortages of essential foodstuffs, medicines, flour designated for bakeries, and medical supplies, in addition to fuel shortages, water and electricity outages, and the loss of the most basic requirements of daily life. These conditions seriously threaten the lives of children, women, the elderly, and patients, placing them on the brink of a genuine humanitarian catastrophe that cannot be ignored or tolerated.
The Kobani Local Council affirms that these developments cannot be separated from a systematic policy of pressure and restriction targeting Kurdish regions and their inhabitants, a policy that undermines prospects for stability and social peace and deepens the suffering of a population exhausted by years of war, destruction, and displacement. It is also impossible to overlook Kobani’s ordeal in 2014, when the city faced a brutal assault and attempted occupation by ISIS, which ultimately failed due to the heroic resistance of its people, supported directly by the brave Peshmerga forces.
In light of this tragic reality and the suffocating siege imposed on the city of Kobani and its countryside, we issue an urgent and clear appeal to the United Nations, the UN Security Council, the European Union, the Syrian interim government, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, international and regional human rights organizations, and all influential actors in the international community to intervene immediately and exert pressure on the Syrian government to lift this unjust siege unconditionally, open crossings for humanitarian aid, and ensure its safe and swift delivery to those in need, in order to protect civilians and safeguard their human dignity.
We also make a special appeal to the Barzani Charity Foundation, given its well-known humanitarian and national role, to assume its humanitarian responsibility and take immediate action to deliver relief and humanitarian assistance to the besieged population of Kobani, providing the necessary support at this critical moment that demands solidarity and the prioritization of humanitarian values above all else.
We stress that the continuation of these policies will only further complicate the crisis and undermine any serious efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution in Syria.
In conclusion, the Kobani Local Council of the Kurdish National Council in Syria affirms to the people of Kobani that it will continue to use all available means to convey their voice to international organizations and forums, in defense of their legitimate right to a dignified life, security, and stability, until the siege is fully lifted, civilian suffering is ended, and their right to a free, dignified, and safe life is guaranteed.
Kobani Local Council
Kurdish National Council in Syria
Kobani – January 21, 2026
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President Barzani Discusses Latest Developments in Syria with the Vatican Secretary of State
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, on the challenges facing the future of the region, particularly in Syria, as well as the political situation and latest developments in Iraq and the wider region.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, as part of President Barzani’s visit to the Vatican.
During the meeting, the Vatican Secretary of State welcomed President Barzani and commended his role in promoting a culture of coexistence and in consolidating stability and security in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, which has enabled citizens to live in an atmosphere of peace and reassurance.
Bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Vatican were also discussed as a key topic of the meeting.
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President Barzani and the Emir of Qatar emphasize preventing clashes between Arabs and The Kurd in Syria
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani held a phone call with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which they discussed the latest developments in Syria and underscored the importance of preserving security and stability in the region.
According to the statement, the call took place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and included an exchange of views on the broader political situation in the region.
Both sides agreed on the urgent need to halt fighting and clashes in Syria, prevent the outbreak of confrontations between Arabs and Kurds, and address disputes and disagreements through dialogue, mutual understanding, and peaceful means.
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Masrour Barzani and Nawwaf Salam Stress the Need to Preserve Syria’s Security and Stability
ARK NEWS.. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met today, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam, as part of Barzani’s ongoing agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The meeting addressed the overall situation and recent developments in Iraq and the broader region.
Both leaders emphasized the necessity of preserving Syria’s security and stability, calling for an end to all military battles and confrontations. They stressed the importance of resolving disputes through negotiation and dialogue, while ensuring respect for the rights of the Kurdish people and all Syrian components.
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At the Direction of President Barzani, Barzani Charity Foundation Dispatches Its Largest Aid Convoy to Western Kurdistan
ARK News.. The Head of the Barzani Charity Foundation announced the arrival of the largest humanitarian aid convoy ever dispatched by the foundation to the regions of Western Kurdistan (Rojava), stressing that the campaign comes in direct response to the guidance of President Masoud Barzani to support and assist the people of the region.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Head of the Foundation, Mousa Ahmed, said the relief convoy consists of 67 trucks carrying 22 different types of essential, medical, and logistical supplies. He added that a specialized team of 150 staff members from the foundation is accompanying the convoy to provide direct field, health, and logistical services to civilians.
Ahmed emphasized that the role of the Barzani Charity Foundation will not be limited to the delivery of aid alone, noting that the foundation seeks to act as “a strong bridge” connecting the people of Rojava with local and international organizations and donor agencies, in order to ensure effective aid delivery and expand the scope of humanitarian assistance.
He confirmed that this convoy is the “first” in a series of upcoming humanitarian campaigns, explaining that the operation is being carried out in full coordination with the local administration in Rojava to guarantee that assistance reaches all cities and communities.
Concluding his remarks, Ahmed said, “The Barzani Charity Foundation will remain alongside our brothers and sisters in Rojava and will continue providing its services on a broad scale until conditions improve and stability is restored.”
He also announced that the Barzani Charity Foundation will open several offices in Kurdistan Syria in the near future.
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Kurdistan Diaspora Union Issues Urgent Appeal to Kurds Across the World
ARK News.. The Kurdistan Diaspora Union has issued an urgent and comprehensive appeal to Kurds living in all countries of the diaspora, urging them to activate diplomatic and field pressure tools to halt the attacks carried out by the Syrian government forces on the Kurdistan Syria regions and to prevent massacres against civilians.
The union emphasized that these efforts are aligned with the enduring principles of President Masoud Barzani, who consistently stresses the need to protect the Kurdish people and preserve the dignity and lives of citizens wherever they are.
In a statement, the Kurdistan Diaspora Union strongly condemned the military operations led by the Syrian army, describing them as “an overt attempt to undermine the social fabric and break the will of the Kurdish people.”
The statement stressed that these attacks represent a blatant violation of humanitarian values and international law, noting that the Kurdish people in “Rojava” have made significant sacrifices on behalf of the entire world in defeating the terrorist “ISIS” and contributing to international stability.
The union called on all patriotic Kurds in the diaspora to participate in peaceful and lawful demonstrations in major cities around the world, specifically mentioning the German cities of Cologne and Hanover, to voice the Kurdish plight to international decision-making centers.
The union also urged the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and to push for political dialogue as the only alternative to the machinery of war and violence.
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Masrour Barzani and UNHCR Chief Discuss Syria’s Military Escalation and Refugee Impact
ARK News.. During his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Barham Salih.
The meeting focused on the general situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region. Both sides discussed the humanitarian impact of the recent military clashes and confrontations in Syria, emphasizing their negative effects on refugees and displaced families.
They also addressed the ongoing threat posed by ISIS militants and the security risks they continue to present.
The discussion concluded with mutual agreement on the urgent need to end wars and restore peace and stability across the region.
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U.S. Senator Warns of Consequences Over Continued Syrian Military Operations Toward Raqqa
ARK News.. A U.S. senator has warned of the repercussions of continued military operations carried out by Syrian government forces toward the city of Raqqa, stressing that Damascus is not heeding U.S. warnings.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said in a statement that Syrian government forces are continuing their attacks toward Raqqa, noting that the continuation of these operations would be met with the imposition of severe sanctions on Syria.
Graham added that pressing ahead with the attacks would lead to a deterioration in relations between Washington and Damascus, holding the Syrian government responsible for any escalation that may occur in bilateral relations.
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United Nations: Thousands of Civilians Displaced in Northeastern Syria Due to Military Escalation
ARK News.. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that thousands of civilians have been displaced in northeastern Syria as a result of the recent military escalation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 20, UNHCR said it is continuing efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance and essential supplies to displaced families, seeking to ensure that aid reaches them in an appropriate manner amid deteriorating conditions on the ground.
According to the agency, despite the existence of ceasefire agreements, tensions remain at their peak, with violent clashes continuing between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian army across several fronts.
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