Rojava Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Rojava
Flag Emblem
Areas under the region's administration
Status	De facto autonomous region of Syria
Capital	Ayn Issa 36°23′7″N 38°51′34″E / 36.38528°N 38.85944°E / 36.38528; 38.85944
Largest city	Raqqa
Official languages	See languages Kurdish Arabic Syriac-Aramaic
Government	Libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy

• Co-Presidents	Îlham Ehmed Mansur Selum
• Co-Chairs	Amina Omar Riad Darar

Legislature	Syrian Democratic Council
Autonomous region

• Transitional administration declared	2013
• Cantons declare autonomy	January 2014
• Cantons declare federation	17 March 2016
• New administration declared	6 September 2018

Area
• Total	50,000 km² (19,000 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	≈2,000,000
Currency	Syrian pound (SYP)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
Driving side	right

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) is also known as Rojava. It is a special area in northeastern Syria that governs itself. This means it acts like an independent region, even though other countries don't officially recognize it as a separate country.

The NES is made up of several self-governing areas. These include Afrin, Jazira, Euphrates, Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij, and Deir Ez-Zor. The region started governing itself in 2012 during the Syrian Civil War. Its military, called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been involved in the conflict.

Even though the NES has some relationships with other countries, no country or international group officially says it is an independent region. Many different groups of people live in northeastern Syria. The largest groups are Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian people. There are also smaller groups like Turkmen, Armenians, and Circassians.

History of Rojava
- How Rojava Started
- Forming the Administration
People and Culture
Geography and Environment
- Rivers and Mountains
- Ancient History
Images for kids
See also

History of Rojava

How Rojava Started

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria began to govern itself during the Syrian Civil War. This war started in 2011. As the Syrian government focused on other parts of the country, local groups in the northeast took control of their areas.

In 2012, these groups, mainly Kurdish, started to set up their own government. They wanted to create a system where local communities had more power.

Forming the Administration

In January 2014, the different areas in Rojava declared themselves "cantons." A canton is like a small, self-governing region. These cantons worked together to form a larger administration.

Later, in March 2016, these cantons decided to create a federation. A federation is a group of states or regions that join together but keep some of their own power. This was a step towards a more organized self-governing system.

In September 2018, a new administration was officially announced. This helped to bring all the self-governing areas under one system.

People and Culture

Diverse Communities

North and East Syria is home to many different groups of people. The main groups are Kurds, Arabs, and Assyrians. Each group has its own language, traditions, and culture.

Kurds: The Kurdish people are a large group in the region. They have a rich history and culture, and their language is Kurdish.
Arabs: Arab people also make up a big part of the population. They speak Arabic and have their own cultural traditions.
Assyrians: Assyrians are an ancient group of people who have lived in this region for thousands of years. They speak Syriac-Aramaic.

There are also smaller communities of Turkmen, Armenians, and Circassians. This mix of cultures makes the region very unique.

Languages Spoken

The official languages in North and East Syria are Kurdish, Arabic, and Syriac-Aramaic. This shows how important it is for all the different groups to be able to communicate and keep their languages alive.

Daily Life and Education

Life in Rojava involves people working together to build their communities. The administration supports local efforts, like helping workers form cooperatives. A cooperative is a business or organization owned and run by its members.

Education is also important. Schools teach children about their culture and help them learn new skills, including music and arts.

Geography and Environment

Rivers and Mountains

The region is known for its important rivers, like the Khabur river. Rivers are vital for farming and providing water.

There are also mountains, such as Sharat Kovakab, which is a volcano near the city of Al-Hasakah.

Ancient History

North and East Syria has a very long history. It was part of the Fertile Crescent, which is an area in the Middle East where some of the earliest civilizations began. Because of this, there are many ancient sites, like Tell Halaf, where people can learn about the past.

Images for kids

The Khabur river, near Dūr-Katlimmu
Sharat Kovakab, a volcano near the city of Al-Hasakah
Having been part of the Fertile Crescent, Northern Syria has several Neolithic sites such as Tell Halaf.
Ruins of the "Red House" of the Assyrian site Dur-Katlimmu exposed by excavations (6th century AD)
The Ba'athist government of Syria under Hafez al-Assad (pictured c. 1987) implemented Arabization policies in northern Syria.
Kurds celebrating Newroz in Girê Tertebê, near Qamishlo, in 1997
Kurds, Assyrians, and Arabs demonstrate against the Syrian government in Qamishli, 6 January 2012
Military situation in December 2015, the SDF would be successful in pushing ISIS out of northern Syria
A YPJ fighter, November 2014
A YPG Sniper in defense of Northern Syria from Turkey, Afrin
Ras al-Ayn shelling during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria.
Theater center in Rojava in Kobani 2014
High school students in Tev-Cand in a classroom, dancing during a class on Syrian culture
Public performance in the AANES (Rojava) in administration Tev Cand
Children in (AANES) school curriculum children learning to play instruments and arts
Sustainable micro-irrigation system in Syria created by the AANES in southern Afrin.
Border crossing at Semalka between Iraqi Kurdistan government and the AANES on the Tigris river.
The autonomous administration is supporting efforts for workers to form cooperatives, such as this sewing cooperative in Derik.
SDF-controlled territory (green) and Turkish-occupied territory (red) in October 2019
Female fighters of the YPJ play a significant combat role in the region.
HXP militiamen on parade in 2016.
Satellite images of the village of Husseiniya in 2014 and 2015, reportedly leveled by the YPG.
SDF Yazidis praying in a Yazidi temple, with a mural of the holy Melek Taus, in AANES (Rojava) following the expulsion of ISIS
A YPJ soldier next to a large reservoir in Northern Syria
The streets of Qamishli during Christmas
Town center of Raqqa, 2009
Salih Muslim, co-chairman of the region's leading Democratic Union Party (PYD) with Ulla Jelpke at Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Berlin
A demonstration in the city of Afrin in support of the YPG against the Turkish invasion of Afrin, 19 January 2018