Turkish NGO distributes aid to villages in Afrin

By Esref Musa and Burak Karacaoglu

IDLIB, Syria (AA) - Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) distributed aid packages to families living in four villages in western Afrin, cleared of PYD/PKK terrorists during Turkey’s ongoing Operation Olive Branch, according to an official on Friday.

Selim Tosun, the foundation's media adviser, told Anadolu Agency that families in Jinderes town’s Deir Ballut, Dukkan, Nesriyya and Muhammadiyah villages were given aid from Turkish benefactors.

"We went to the area to meet the needs of the civilians living in the villages cleared of the PYD/PKK terror, and we brought food parcels, children's parcels and hygiene kits to about 100 families."

Tosun noted that the families in these villages were living under tough conditions.

“There were some families which were not able to bring even a bread to their houses since months,” he added.

Tosun stated that the humanitarian aid will continue to these villages and mobile health clinics will be sent to the area in a short time, for the civilians who have health problems.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.