ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—A census will be held on Monday in Rojava, the Kurdish self-autonomous region of northern Syria, the Northern Syria Democratic Federalism Organizing Council announced.

“The purpose of the census is to reveal the precise number of the western Kurdistan [Rojava] populations,” said Jihad Omer, a member of the Syrian Democratic Leadership Council.



“The number of civilians fleeing to Rojava from other parts of Syria is on the increase. It is very crucial to hold a census to have accurate data about our areas’ populations, so that we can make plans for the future of our society.”



The census, titled “I am here,” will be held in two parts based on geographic location. It will cover the three cantons of Rojava, Cizire, Kobane, and Efrin, as well as liberated areas of northern Syria.



The census is being done in order to “strengthen social and political developments on the ground,” reads a statement issued by the Council. It is also in preparation for elections in Rojava as the region moves towards democratic federalism.



The information gathered in the census will be used for future planning, the Council stated.



Kurdish political parties sometimes publish data about the population of Rojava, but they were not official figures.



Monday has been named a public holiday; even shops are expected to close for the day.





