HRW: Afrin Residents Blocked from Fleeing

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement on its official website yesterday (April 8) and shared information as to the condition of civilians fleeing the Afrin operation of Turkey.

In the statement, it has been indicated that "Syrian government forces are blocking some civilians fleeing the Turkish-led military actions in Afrin from entering territory under government control." As reported by HRW, some of these civilians are "stranded in areas with limited food, clean water and medical supplies."

HRW also stated that the armed groups working with the forces of Turkey are "looting and destroying civilian property in Afrin and surrounding villages, exacerbating the plight of civilians there."

"Forces of Turkey and armed groups should halt looting"

In the statement issued by HRW, the condition of civilians in Afrin was described as follows:

"While the humanitarian conditions for all civilians who have fled fighting in Afrin are acute, those denied access to government held areas and suffering looting of their property are particularly vulnerable. Turkish forces and anti-government armed groups should end the rampant looting and destruction of civilian property that is taking place in Afrin, and government soldiers need to stop blocking those trying to flee."

137 thousand people have fled Afrin

In a report recently published by the United Nations (UN), it was estimated that approximately 137 thousand people had fled Afrin by March 29, 2018. These people are currently residing in the centers and surrounding villages of Tell Rifaat, Nabeul, al-Zahraa and Fafin.

According to estimations, there are 90 thousand migrants from Afrin in Tell Rifaat and its surrounding villages; 20 thousand migrants in Nabeul; 10 thousand migrants in al-Zahraa and 15 thousand migrants in Fafin and Kafr Naseh. (ŞA/SD)