“The End of the Rojava Dream” was the headline in newspapers in the spring of 2026 following the Syrian army’s attack on the Kurdish-dominated, self-governing areas in northeastern Syria.

This political project—unique in the region, left-leaning, and strongly focused on human and women’s rights—seemed to have failed. The Kurds’ political autonomy was on the verge of collapse.

The Caravan of Humanity has been supporting our friends in Rojava for years. During the attack, we sent funds that enabled our partner organizations on the ground to organize immediate food distributions for the people hardest hit. The situation was particularly dire in the besieged city of Kobane.

After the fighting subsided—fighting that had forced more than 100,000 people to flee—Karawani Rainer set out with a convoy of relief supplies to alleviate the suffering, at least a little.

Between Despair and Fear

The despair over the failure of the dream of a democratic, secular Rojava was palpable everywhere. At the same time, there is great fear about how integration into the Syrian state will work—and whether another war will break out.
The positions of the Islamist-influenced government in Damascus and the people of Rojava seem too irreconcilable. Women and religious minorities, in particular, fear losing the rights they have fought so hard to win.

Rainer witnessed the situation firsthand and spoke with our partners. The shipment of relief supplies provided tangible support. But the issues that concern the people in Rojava go far beyond that.

What might life be like for people living together in the new Syria? What will become of the political and social achievements of recent years? And will people be able to preserve the rights they have fought so hard to win?

Over the next few days, we’ll take you along to Rojava and share Rainer’s firsthand account of the situation there, as well as what our local partners need right now.