STRUGGLES

Despite the lack ofoutside help, people have been working hard to make the city livable again.
The people ofKobanê are busy rebuilding their own houses and the reconstruction board has
developed a new water system for the city, as Dostar informs us:
"Before ISIS took over, the city relied on the Firat [Euphrates] river for drinking water but ISIS destroyed
this supply. As an alternative the municipality has made a depot in which chlorine is added and then
pumped to the city. Fifteen wells have also been dug in the city so the water is already purified. From
these fifteen wells, we provided water for the rest ofthe city. It took us three months and one million
dollars. This is a huge amount ofmoney for us."
We are also told about the construction ofa brick and gravel factory in Kobanê. Once
completed, local people will be able to buy reconstruction materials at 30% ofthe normal
price. Dostar tells us that petrol is also subsidised, and that bread is distributed throughout
the city on three shifts each day. The agricultural board has also set up a new co-operative
where 1,400 sheep have been distributed to the poorest families in the community. These
families are encouraged to live from the sheep’s milk. Any new lambs are sent back into the
cooperative and distributed to other families. Lastly, we are told about a women's sewing
centre initiative, which has been set up to enable women to become financially independent.
Despite a lack ofresources, the people ofKobanê are doing their best to rebuild their lives,
and are doing so in the democratic and egalitarian spirit that has characterised the revolution
in Rojava. Yet international solidarity is needed.
For ideas ofwhat you can do to support Kobanê, go to the Solidarity with Kobanê
section on p224.
the struggle against daesh
A group oflocals celebrating a wedding in Kobanê. Photo by Brighton Kurdish Solidarity, November 2015.
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