Syrian children enjoy trip to southern Turkey

By Hilmi Tunahan Karakaya

HATAY, Turkey (AA) - A hundred children from Syrian territories cleared of terrorism by the Turkish military got a treat on Sunday with a visit to neighboring Turkey.

Children from the northern Syria cities of Afrin and Jinderes who excelled in their studies arrived in the southern Turkish province of Hatay courtesy of a number of Turkish ministries.

During the trip, the children visited a shopping mall in the city where Benefi Veziro, 14, got the chance to sing songs in Turkish, Kurdish, and Arabic.

Ali Sandikci, a Turkish official, said that the group included a number of orphans.

"This was the first program. Starting today, we intend to hold a trip each month and bring 100 Syrian children to Hatay," he said.

Rujan Mannan, 13, said that the trip was full of fun and he loved every second of it.

"I'm happy to be in Turkey, thank you all who contributed to this trip," he said.

Cemil Sensoz of Turkey’s Youth and Sports Ministry also said that a sports center the ministry began to build in Afrin is set to be completed within two months.

- Afrin, Syria

Afrin had been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK terror group since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without a fight.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD/YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.

Turkey on Jan. 20, 2018 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.

More than 3,800 terrorists were neutralized in the operation.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aimed to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.

The operation was carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its right to self-defense under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.