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From East of Euphrates.. Damascus Authorities Obstruct Aid to Stricken Coast
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Continued prevention of humanitarian aid to affected areas deepens national wounds and increases the suffering of affected civilians in extremely difficult and complex circumstances
The Syrian coastal regions are witnessing a notable deterioration in humanitarian and living conditions following the bloody events of March 7th and 8th. These events claimed the lives of approximately 1,676 civilians from the Alawite community—a figure likely to increase—and caused hundreds of families to flee their homes.
This comes amid the absence of a clear strategy from Damascus central authorities to address the consequences of the humanitarian disaster that struck the region.
Sources from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that checkpoints belonging to the General Security of the Damascus government prevented humanitarian aid convoys carrying 13,500 food and health baskets from passing through. The convoys were heading from north and eastern Syria towards the Syrian coast, forcing them to return to Tabqa city in rural Raqqa, without any official statement explaining the reasons for the ban.
This behavior reflects a stark contradiction between the official discourse calling for national unity and the practices on the ground that reinforce division.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights expects that blocking humanitarian aid to these areas, amid the continuing effects of the bloody events, represents an additional pressure element foreshadowing the escalation of living and health crises among the population. This is especially concerning given the burning of dozens of homes and agricultural lands that were a primary source of livelihood for the Alawite component, and the lack of alternative economic options after waves of displacement and loss of livelihoods.
This starvation policy appears to be a collective punishment for civilians whose only fault is falling victim to conflicts in which they have no stake.
It's worth noting that this is the second incident of its kind. A previous convoy from the "Self-Administration" reached the Syrian coast on March 18th as a humanitarian gesture to support those affected. Yesterday, a second convoy was launched, complementing one sent two days earlier, carrying 13,500 food and health baskets designated for coast residents, but it was prevented from passing.
These initiatives reveal the possibility of overcoming political differences in favor of joint humanitarian work, which is being hindered by narrow political calculations.
These convoys represent an expression of humanitarian solidarity reflecting concern for solidarity and coexistence among Syrians from different regions. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights welcomed this initiative, considering it a fundamental step toward strengthening national unity amid the fragmentation and crises afflicting the nation.
Meanwhile, the question remains about the seriousness of various parties in prioritizing humanitarian interests over political calculations in a country torn by war for more than a decade.
