Thessaloniki, 27 January 2026 – German peace activists Lea Bunse and Jakob Rihn have joined the ‘Caravan in Defence of Humanity’ campaign. Both were injured a year ago during the civilian defence of the Tishreen Dam on the Euphrates River in North and East Syria (NES) by Turkish drone attacks. Now they want to travel to the Turkish-Syrian border to provide medical assistance and draw attention to the alarming shortage of supplies in northern Syria.
Lea Bunse, an environmental activist from the Heilbronn district, and Jakob Rihn, a physiotherapist from Brandenburg, were already part of the peace vigil at the Tişrîn Dam in January last year. At that time, there were heavy attacks on the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) by Islamist militias, supported by the Turkish army. 22 people were killed and more than 200 injured.
‘We have experienced first-hand what it means to be injured under fire – and how difficult medical care and the humanitarian situation are in such a situation. That is why the work of the medical personnel on site is so important,’ says Lea Bunse.
At that time, thousands of people from all parts of NES came together to protect the dam as a site of critical civilian infrastructure, supplying electricity to millions of households. They risked their lives to confront the Islamist militias and drone attacks.
Bunse and Rihn were wounded in targeted drone strikes by the Turkish army on the civilian vigil. First aid for the injured was provided under extreme conditions, as ambulances and medical personnel were also targeted.
“We had to return to Germany because of our injuries. But in our hearts, we are still with the people there. Everything that is happening right now reminds us of the situation a year ago. Once again, civilians are being targeted. Once again, attempts are being made to destroy democratic coexistence among the people of Syria”, said Rihn.
By participating in the Caravan, they not only want to raise public awareness, but also provide concrete medical support. They also want to call on international aid organisations to take a clear stand against the ongoing war crimes. Together with the Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê), they also want to organise donations to support the people. They have joined forces as the ‘Medical Support Caravan’ to pursue all these causes.
Both are available for interviews and press conferences.
Press contacts:
Lea Bunse and Jakob Rihn +491639485993
Email for the Medical Support Caravan: medicalsupportcaravan@proton.me
Instagram: @Medicalvisabilitycaravan
Press team for the Europe-wide Caravan: +31 6130 48773
About the ‘Caravan in Defence of Humanity’
The aims of the international Caravan are to break the international silence in the face of the crimes committed by al-Sharaa’s Syrian Transitional Government and to send a strong message of solidarity. Its destination is the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane in Syria, which is currently under attack and siege by the military of the Islamist transitional government of the Syrian state.
