ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan region President Masoud Barzani warned Monday that jihadi forces have besieged the city of Afrin in Kurdish Kurdistan (Rojava) and called on internaitonal help for civilians.

"Afrin has been facing a dangerous economic sanction by extremist groups like the Nusra Front in Syria for a long time," said a statement from Barzani’s office.

It said the siege was tightened last week, and that the jihadi forces had been firing mortars into towns and villages around Afrin.

"The Kurdistan region presidency strongly condemns such disgusting and inhumane behavior against our sisters and brothers in Afrin," the statement said.

It also addressed the lack of food and medical care in the city, warning it was threatening the lives of thousands of inhabitants.

The presidency said it “calls on the international community and associated parties in the world to take responsibility to save Afrin... and help break the siege."

It added that international charity organizations should do their part, by sending basic necessities and opening a humanitarian corridor to save the people of Afrin.

Afrin lies in Syria’s Aleppo province. However, since 2012, when the Syrian government lost control of the district, it became a de facto autonomous region of Rojava. It is now under serious threat by extremist groups operating in Syria.

Rudaw