Iran warns of humanitarian catastrophe in Kobani

Iran warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Syria’s border town of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani, which has been seized by militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham on Tuesday emphasized the need to support the Syrian government and nation in fighting terrorists in the crisis-hit town and called for sending humanitarian aid to civilians and refugees there.

She also deplored the international community’s indifference to the fate of people in Kobani and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran will soon send humanitarian aid for the residents and refugees in this area through the Syrian government.”

The remarks came as the predominantly Kurdish town remained under ferocious attacks by ISIL militants over the past two weeks.

ISIL fighters have captured hundreds of Kurdish villages around the border town, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.

The ISIL declared a caliphate in June and has seized vast swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, displacing thousands of people mainly from minority communities.