Four Children Die in Kobani Amid Extreme Cold and Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

SOHR's Website

Kobani city in northern Syria.

The co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent has announced the deaths of four children in Kobani in northern Syria due to extreme cold, as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a sharp deterioration in health conditions in the city amid what it described as a tragic humanitarian crisis.

Hadiya Abdullah, co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent, confirmed on Saturday, 24 January 2026, that four children had died in Kobani as a result of severe cold weather following a snowstorm that struck the region on Thursday evening.

A doctor at Amal Hospital also confirmed to SOHR that four children died from dehydration caused by malnutrition combined with extreme cold. The doctor added that several newborns died during childbirth due to power outages and a lack of oxygen.

Kobani is currently facing extremely harsh humanitarian conditions as a result of a siege imposed by forces affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government. Roads leading to the city have been closed, while electricity, water, and internet services have been cut. As temperatures continue to fall, residents—particularly children—face life-threatening conditions amid the absence of even the most basic necessities.

SOHR reported a complete shortage of baby formula and a widespread lack of medicines, with residents forced to drink contaminated water and rely on dwindling supplies stored in household tanks.

The Kurdish Red Crescent Co-Chair further warned that the continuation of the siege could lead to the spread of diseases and epidemics, due to the near-total absence of essential services including water, electricity, medical supplies, and infant nutrition. The organisation stressed that children are at particular risk.

This severe deterioration comes amid an ongoing siege on the city imposed by interim government-affiliated forces and allied factions, alongside continued attacks on surrounding villages and rural areas. Clashes between these forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remain ongoing, further worsening the humanitarian situation in Kobani.



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