SURUC, Turkey (AP) — A senior Kurdish official is urging the international community and the United Nations to intervene in the fight to save the Syrian town of Kobani from Islamic State militants.

He’s also appealing to Turkey to open a corridor that would allow remaining civilians to leave the town and allow weapons to enter.

The official, Ismet Sheikh Hasan, describes the situation as dire. He says Kurdish fighters with “simple weapons” are in a desperate battle against heavily armed militants who are pushing in from two sides.

More than two weeks of airstrikes by the U.S. and several allies have far failed to stop the militants’ advance on the town near the Turkish border.

U.S. Central Command says it conducted airstrikes north and south of Kobani yesterday and today using fighter jets and bombers.

Activists say more than 500 people have been killed since the Islamic State offensive on Kobani began Sept. 16, and more than 200,000 people have fled across the border into Turkey.

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