Qamishlo youth protest hiring outsiders at Qamishlo Airport

A group of young people from Qamishlo issued a statement on Tuesday in front of Qamishlo International Airport, joined by other youths and local residents, expressing their opposition to hiring employees and workers from outside the region. They called on the Syrian transitional government to respect the region’s unique characteristics and the will of its residents, and to provide job opportunities for local youth.

A young woman read the statement addressed to the transitional government, which included: “Under the integration agreement signed between the transitional government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the region’s distinct characteristics must be respected, along with the will and decisions of its people. Institutions operating in the Jazira region must take local circumstances into account when appointing staff and employees. However, employees and workers at Qamishlo International Airport have been selected from outside the region.”

The statement added that Qamishlo’s youth consider this decision misguided and condemn it, stressing their right to work in their own region and access available employment opportunities, particularly given that qualified and experienced young people remain unemployed.

It further stated that bringing in people from outside the region to fill positions while local youth face unemployment is unjust. It noted that working at the airport could help young people secure their livelihoods, describing employment as a fundamental human right. The statement also stressed the importance of giving local youth opportunities to participate in various activities and sectors of employment across the region, emphasizing that their demands extend beyond jobs at the airport alone.

The young people called on the transitional government to respond to their demandsand provide more job opportunities for local residents. They noted that rising unemployment in recent months has forced many young people in Qamishlo to rely on their families for financial support, placing an additional economic burden on households.

The statement pointed out that young people’s continued financial dependence on their families affects not only their economic circumstances but also their psychological well-being, and may contribute to social problems. This, it stressed, makes providing job opportunities that enable young people to achieve financial independence and participate in economic and social life all the more important.

The youth of Qamishlo concluded their statement by renewing their call on the transitional government to provide employment opportunities, stressing their determination to bring their demands to the attention of the relevant authorities to ensure that local residents have access to jobs and that their skills and experience are put to use in institutions operating in the region.

ANHA