Turkish agency distributes aid in Syria's Afrin

By Burak Milli

AFRIN, Syria (AA) - Teams from Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) on Sunday distributed hot meals and food packets in Afrin's southwestern town of Jinderes.

The aid agency has taken all means and measures in the scope of Operation Olive Branch, told AFAD's Hatay province director Omer Akbas to Anadolu Agency.

The hot meals and food packets were distributed to the civilians returning to their homes in Jinderes town's Dayr Ballut, Mahmudiyah and Hajilar villages, after the Turkish army and the Free Syrian Army liberated the area, said Akbas.

Separately, a local returning to her village after Tthe urkish army liberated it from YPG/PKK terrorists said her children were taken away from her at gunpoint by the terrorists.

She told Anadolu Agency that the YPG/PKK terrorists took away her property as well and said she had nothing left other than the clothes she was wearing.

She expressed gratitude to the Turkish soldiers, adding she was "very happy" to have Turkish soldiers in Afrin.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch has 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 is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming any civilians.

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

*Name of local withheld to protect privacy