Mustafa Bali The Director of the Media Center said the following statement:

Clarification on the issue of stuck civilians on the island of Kataa in Deir al-Azur.

First, unfortunately, these civilians, children, women and elders, are still stuck on the Euphrates island, under indiscriminate bombardment and the advance of the regime’s forces to the island, and there are real dangers that threaten their lives.

Second: All our attempts in the Syrian Democratic Forces to evacuate these civilians failed because of the insistence of the regime forces to close all the ports to these civilians and the threat of bombing if they move north

Thirdly, we in the Syrian Democratic Forces are ready for any action and to provide all the necessary facilities to preserve the lives of these detainees. In this sense, we call on human rights institutions to pressure the regime to open a humanitarian corridor that allows these civilians stranded to leave the safe areas.

Fourth: We call on the democratic forces and humanitarian institutions to pressure the Syrian army to stop the bombing of the island and stop its march until these civilians are evacuated.

MCSDF