Why Amoudah
Amuda, also written as Amoudah, is a town located in the Al Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, situated close to the border with Turkey. Recognized as the fourth largest town in the governorate, it features a diverse history and a population composed predominantly of ethnic Kurds alongside Arab and Assyrian minorities.
The geography around the town is marked by ancient settlement mounds, known locally as tells. Within the town itself is Tell Shermola, an archaeological site revealing traces of occupation dating back to the third millennium BC. Historical evidence connects this mound to the Middle Assyrian period around 1250 BC during the reign of Shalmaneser I, with scholars identifying it as the ancient Assyrian city of Kulishinas. A second mound sits three kilometers north across the modern international border.
Demographics in the area shifted significantly during the early twentieth century, eventually establishing a Kurdish majority. In recent years, local traditions and heritage have experienced a cultural revival. Traditional Kurdish clothing and flags are traded in local markets, and a local language center offers instruction. The town is also the home base for Ronahi TV, a Syrian television station that produces cultural, social, and political broadcasts in Kurmanji Kurdish and Arabic.
Notable landmarks in Amuda include both memorial and religious sites. A municipal park stands in memory of a tragic event in November 1960, when a fire destroyed a local cinema. Historic religious institutions include the Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Elias, also known as Mor Elias Church, which was restored and reopened in 2017, as well as the Syriac Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist. Cultural and civic events in the town have frequently taken place at the Huri Culture and Art Centre.
In recent history, Amuda has fulfilled significant civic functions, temporarily serving as an administrative capital for the local autonomous administration. The town relies on municipal electrical generators for its power needs, with community projects periodically organized to sustain basic utility services for local households.
01 Weather
87°
64°
92°
67°
91°
71°
94°
73°
93°
77°
74°
69°