A Letter from (125) Civil Organizations and Institutions to the Brussels VI Conference

2022-05-09
Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the European Union for Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Mr. Geir O.Pedersen, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria,
Gentlemen of the Joint Committee of the European Union and the United Nations organizers of the Brussels VI Conference,
Representatives of donor States and organizations,
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen…

We - the Syrian civil society organizations and institutions operating in Northeastern Syria (NES) and in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the signatories on this letter, at a time while we have been marginalized and excluded from all political and civic tracks and activities, including this distinguished conference of yours and the Syrian Constitutional Committee, we consistently reaffirm our firm belief in the necessity of a political solution and democratic transformation in Syria in accordance with the course of Geneva Conference and the International Resolution (2254) as the only way to resolve the Syrian issue. At the same time, rejecting violence in all its forms, and from all military parties alike. Especially since the Russian war on Ukraine has shown all countries friendly to the Syrian people that the international community is unable to find any solution to the Syrian issue, and that this deficit has made humanitarian conditions more difficult and allowed military forces benefiting from the undermining of peace and increased stifling of civilians.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is the responsibility of the European Union to assume its responsibilities on the basis of the international covenants and charters it adheres to and through its lofty values, which it proclaims and advocates away from political attractions and based on its noble human values in order to:

First: The Issue of Forced Displacement and Demographic Change
The systematic forced displacement, the expulsion of indigenous people from their areas that form processes of demographic change and the construction of residential complexes for settlers in a number of areas, especially in Afrin, Ras Al-Ain and Tell Abyad, have negative impacts on societal peace between the components of Northeastern Syria, hindering the process of sustainable peace in Syria. While the international community and the Syrian people are seeking possible solutions to return the indigenous people to their areas, Turkey is working, according to what it officially announces, to forcibly return one million Syrians through deportation and resettlement in the occupied areas such as Afrin, Ras Al-Ain and Tell Abyad, following building housing complexes for them. Thus, seeking to create a social conflict between the Syrian components themselves.
We therefore call upon the international community to intervene immediately in order to stop the forced displacement, work to return the indigenous people to their regions and compensate those affected, as well as eliminate the effects resulting from these displacements. Moreover, we stress the need to find sustainable solutions for more than half a million displaced Syrians living in Northeastern Syria, mostly from Afrin, Ras Al-Ain and Tell Abyad, lacking the lowest viability of life and protection. In addition to the occupation of their cities, the seizure of their property and homes, and the continuation of the most terrible violations against those who thought of staying by the armed factions loyal to Turkey.

Second: Civil Space Protection
Although each year Brussels Conference stresses the need to continue working with and providing financial support and capacity-building to Syrian civil society, engaging it in decision-making and contributing to Syria's peace and negotiations, yet the organizations operating in Northeastern Syria have not received the required support and the CSOs in NES remain marginalized and unrepresented in many civilian and political tracks and platforms discussing the future of peace in Syria. Furthermore, the United Nations agencies operating in Northeastern Syria continue to refrain from working with local organizations that are not registered with the government of the Syrian regime in Damascus, in light of the continuing security risks to civilian activists to deal with the departments of the regime's government. Not to mention the poor funding and support provided by international organizations operating directly in the region, and the failure to adopt a partnership system with local organizations operating in Northeastern; Most of which are grassroots, began work after the elimination of ISIS and the liberation of Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and the countryside of Al-Hasakah governorate.
Therefore, it is necessary to promote clear mechanisms for the economic, security and legal protection of civilian action for the continuation of organizations' work, to develop them institutionally and to increase coordination between them and international actors in order to enhance their responsiveness to society's needs, and to promote community participation in local and national decision-making.

Third : Food Security
Al-Jazeera region in Northeastern Syria, under the authority of the Autonomous-Administration, which was and continues to be regarded as Syria's food basket and its primary source of wheat production, is experiencing a decline in agricultural and animal production as a result of drought and desertification, and the difficulty of securing seeds. Unofficial sources from local authorities indicate that wheat stocks in Northeastern Syria have diminished to the point of being unavailable for more than three months, prompting the use of corn beans in the flour industry to produce bread. The decline in agricultural production has led to a sharp rise in imported food prices, which has exacerbated the living situation of most citizens in eastern Euphrates.
In Northeastern Syria, there are large agricultural areas, water resources controlled by Turkey and cut off continuously. There is also a high level of expertise that needs support in order to invest agricultural land widely and scientifically. Therefore, pursuing development policy through small, medium and large agricultural enterprises and industries associated with agricultural development will provide material and human resources in the region and create opportunities for self-sufficiency. It will thus contribute to the protection of food security, thereby alleviating the pressure on the international community in crisis to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, in light of its preoccupation with other conflict zones, most notably the Russian war on Ukraine.

Fourth: Economic Deterioration and Its Impact on Local Communities
Northeastern Syria has suffered from neglect and deprivation for decades, and the economy of these areas was almost entirely dependent on agriculture and livestock, in the absence of companies, factories and factories. After the crisis in Syria entered its tenth year, the economic structure in these areas deteriorated for many reasons linked to the ongoing military operations by the armed factions. Most of them are radical, which belongs to the Turkish occupation to date, and the effects of the sanctions on Syria, which have led to a rise in the foreign exchange rate, low salaries, high prices of commodities for daily life, lack of governance in local authorities' institutions, absence of transparency and widespread corruption and monopoly. In addition to the predominance of war dealers in the economy, and the deterioration of agriculture and livestock sectors.
All this has resulted in high incidence of poverty and unemployment, especially among youth groups. In addition to the spread of diseases among the local population, widespread violence and aggression, and an increase in crime; Such as burglary, theft, looting, cross-border smuggling and draining the people's abilities and savings. This has pushed the parents to encourage their youth children to enter the labour market instead of education and study, or to direct their adult children to migrate or join armed actions.
Therefore, the international community and the European Union must improve the living conditions of the families, especially displaced persons, women and people of determination, and pursue effective integrated economic policies aimed at channeling productive capacities towards the provision of goods and materials essential to citizens' lives, providing the necessary support to the agricultural sector and supporting small, medium and large economic and development enterprises.

Fifth: The Issue of Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Immigrants:
One of the most significant problems caused by the crisis in Syria is the issue of displaced Syrians, refugees and immigrants, both inside and outside Syria, and the areas of Northeastern Syria are no exception to this if not the most affected areas. The battles between the various parties have forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to move towards safer areas and reside in camps that lack the lowest necessities of a decent life. A preliminary statistic from the local authorities indicate that more than a million displaced people live in Northeastern Syria while lacking the most basic needs of life as the economic, security and food situation deteriorates. Therefore, attention must be addressed to the displaced, refugees and immigrants in NES, by supporting humanitarian and relief projects, developing their capacities and empowering them economically through small and medium enterprises. Likewise, by providing health services.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen …
This letter represents the hopes of most Syrian citizens in Northeastern Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, who have lived through and experienced long years of war and are still cautiously awaiting military and political developments in the country and are subjected to violent military attacks that displace them from their homes. This letter is nothing but an attempt to express the people’s essential needs and priorities, and to overcome the remnants of the war that affected their social lives and service conditions. The residents of this region have not yet given up hope of victory over the war and are determined to overcome it. To achieve all this, they today need genuine international support paving the way for a stable and secure life under a new political system.


1. Analysis and Strategic Study Organization (ASO).
2. Adwaa Organization for Development and Construction
3. Afrin Women's Center
4. Aheen orgasition for culture and training
5. Al Aseel Association for Development
6. Al Zajel for civil society
7. Al-Ahd Organization
8. Albaghooz Hope for Development
9. Al-Diyar society
10. Al-Furat Hand organization for Development
11. Al-Furat Organization for Relief and Development
12. Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Deve
13. Al-Khaboor Association
14. Al-raja organization for relief and development
15. Alriyf Organization
16. Alwan Organization for Development and Relief
17. Amuda Association for Environmental Protection
18. Anoar algad Organization
19. Areej develompet Center
20. Ashna for Development
21. Ashtar Development Organization
22. Ashti centre
23. Association restore hope
24. Ataa Al-Baghouz Organization
25. Ataa Al-furat organization
26. Ataa for development organaization
27. Atyaf Organization
28. Awda For Development
29. Balsam Center for Health Education
30. Better life organization
31. Better Tomorrow Organization
32. Bridges of Peace for Development
33. Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development
34. Civil Cooperation Organization
35. Community Solidarity Organaization
36. Dan for Relief and Development
37. Darbasiyah Charitable Society
38. Derna Association for Development
39. Developmental Seeds Center
40. Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
41. Dmair mutsela organization
42. Emaar mansura Organization
43. engineering services organization
44. Enmaa Alfurat Organization
45. Environment and Water Association
46. Ezdina Organization
47. Fikra organization
48. four seasons organization
49. Future Hands Organization
50. Future Makers Team
51. Future Visions of Development
52. Green Branch Organization
53. Gummard Association
54. Hajen Technicians Organization
55. Hapyy land organization
56. Hevdestî-Synergy Association for the Victims
57. Hevy for relief and development
58. Hlom development organization
59. Human Rights Commission in Syria (M A F)
60. Inaash Organization for Development
61. Insaf Organization for Development
62. Iwaa organization
63. Jasmine Association
64. Jian Charitable Society
65. Joan Organization for Warrens
66. Kobani for Relief and Development
67. KOMELYA AMAL
68. Kurdish Journalists Network in Syria
69. Kurdish women;s Union RougeAva
70. Kurds without borders
71. Lamsat Al Khair Organization
72. Lisav organisation for humanitarian aid
73. Maakum for development and peace
74. Mahabad Organization for Human Rights
75. manara Organization
76. Media Academy
77. Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
78. moltaka alnhren organization
79. Nabd Team
80. Narcissus Organization
81. NASS Association for Development
82. nawat organization
83. nudem organization
84. Nujin Society for Community Development
85. Okkaz Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
86. Oxygen shabab Organization
87. Ozone Organization
88. Path creation organization
89. Peace Leaders Network
90. Peyam Association for Orphans Care
91. Qadar Organization
92. Qudwa Organisation For Construction and Development
93. Radence of hope
94. Radio saut al haiat
95. Rawafd Organization
96. ray of humanity
97. Refugee Community Council
98. Reng for develoment
99. Rojava activist network
100. Rok for Relief and Development
101. Rose for Support and Empowerment
102. Sanabel Al-furat Development
103. Sara organization to combat violence against women
104. Sawaed Organization for Development
105. Shamal charity association
106. Shams organization
107. Share for Community Development
108. Shawchka Women's Association
109. Shellan Organization for Relief and Development
110. Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
111. Syria for Development and Peacebuilding
112. Syria Help Organization
113. Syrian center for studies and diyalogue
114. Syrian Kurdish Civil Forces Gathering
115. Ta Marbouta Organization
116. Tayif Humanitarian Organization
117. Tel Abyad platform for civil society
118. the sighted hands Organization
119. Together for a better future
120. Tomorrow organization
121. Totol foundation for Relief and Development
122. Vdc Nsy
123. Weqaya Association
124. Youth For change
125. Youth Optimistic