Syria's Turmoil Threatens Minorities

The Current Crisis 

The rapid collapse of Assad’s regime after rebel attacks on Aleppo has plunged Syria into uncertainty. The upheaval has displaced tens of thousands and left millions in peril as a new power vacuum opens and violent factions vie for control of Syrian territory and governance. 

Ethnic and religious minorities including Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians, are especially vulnerable given the notorious actions of rebel groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian National Army (SNA). Both are Turkish-backed militia groups comprised of former Islamic State members, infamous for their brutality and persecution. 

Shocking reports from the ground have emerged as people attempt to escape regions controlled by militia. Many minorities—including Kurds, Christians, and Yazidis fleeing the Shehba region—have endured terrifying and life-threatening experiences on the road. Fearful for their lives, with bodies piled by the side of the road, many were shot at, violently attacked, arrested, and given death threats by rebel militia.  

The Displacement of Minorities to Northeast Syria 

As rebel militia storm towns and villages, thousands have lost their homes, businesses, and possessions. They are in desperate need of international humanitarian support. In the chaos and violence, vulnerable minorities in Syria have been forced to seek refuge in Northeast Syria.  

Many fled to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria (DANNES), one of the only places in Syria where people can hope to find a haven from militants and violence. In fact, DANNES is incredibly unique in both Syria and the Middle East for its distinctiveness as a region where religious freedom, democratic values, and pluralism are intentionally fostered in the culture and governing institutions. 

This regionally led democratic governance has allowed people from diverse beliefs and ethnicities to coexist peacefully without fear of persecution or marginalization. Through this remarkable cultivation of democratic values DANNES has become model for advancing freedom of religion throughout the Middle East.  

With Assad’s fall and ongoing regional conflict, Turkey’s ambitions and its support for Islamist rebel forces directly threaten the unique pluralism of DAANES, as Ankara seeks to dismantle this inclusive governance model in Northeastern Syria and undermine the security of minorities.

Shai Fund's Emergency Response 

In response to the crisis, Shai Fund is providing vital humanitarian aid to displaced ethnic and religious minorities in Northeast Syria. Among the most vulnerable communities receiving assistance are Christians, Yazidis, and Muslim Background Believers (MBB); with limited access to clean water and critical shortages of food and hygiene supplies, they face very challenging living conditions.  

In the days after rebels took control of Aleppo, Shai Fund immediately began coordinating aid into the region, and distributing essential supplies of food, water, hygiene, and sanitation via local churches. Through enabling people to continue living through this emergency humanitarian aid, Shai Fund directly assisted displaced families who had lost everything and lacked the means to support themselves. 

At this time of year, the displaced populations are also facing dire winter conditions, in response to this, Shai Fund is providing shelter and heating to ensure they are protected from the elements. Additionally, those severely impacted by the collapse of financial services are receiving cash assistance to sustain themselves throughout the winter. 

The humanitarian aid Shai Fund is providing to displaced communities in DANNES not only offers immediate relief but also contributes to the long-term stability, resilience, and preservation of these vulnerable populations in Syria. 

Shai Fund’s Humanitarian Efforts in Northeast Syria 

Shai Fund’s extensive experience in delivering multi-track humanitarian aid in DANNES has given it deep knowledge of the region’s needs and challenges affecting individuals, families, and communities. In the last two years alone, Shai Fund has reached over 44,000 Syrians affected by war and displacement. 

Since first delivering aid to Syria in 2015, Shai Fund has continued to engage in creating practical solutions that enable ethno-religious minority communities to remain in their homelands without fear of displacement. These efforts include food security, clean water, relief supplies, medical assistance, and restoring livelihoods through job creation. 

In rural Northeast Syria, near the Turkish border, Shai Fund established a fully staffed Emergency Medical Clinic that serves over 4,000 people annually, providing lifesaving treatment for the ill and injured in a region with poor infrastructure and limited healthcare access. 

Additionally, due to ongoing conflict, many were cut off from access to the river. In response to severe water shortages and food insecurity threatening the survival of religious minorities, Shai Fund, alongside local partners, created and implemented a water delivery system, bringing clean water to hundreds of families and ensuring they can continue to live in their ancestral lands. 

Advocacy for Northeast Syria’s Governance 

Northeast Syria (AANES) remains a beacon of hope for religious minorities and democratic values in a turbulent region. Charmaine Hedding, founder of the Shai Fund, has emphasized the need for continued support for this region, describing it as a model of governance that deradicalizes communities while promoting pluralism and human rights. 

CBN News interview with Charmaine Hedding on the crisis facing minorities in Syria

Amidst the crisis and uncertainty throughout Syria, it is vitally important for the international community to recognize the significance of this example in the Middle East. The preservation of democratic values and freedom of religion or belief in the region must be fully supported in both diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. 

Only through your support, and the support of the wider international community, will it be possible to navigate the precarious future and ensure ethnic and religious minorities are protected from persecution. Moreover, Shai Fund urges governments and international voices to speak out against Turkish incursions into DANNES as well as Islamist aggression through proxy groups to ensure the most vulnerable are not overlooked.