Turkish Red Crescent supplies aid packages to Afrin

By Halil Fidan

AFRIN, Syria (AA) - The Turkish Red Crescent has distributed food and personal care items to 3,000 people in the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin, according to the aid agency on Friday.

The aid was delivered to the civilians in the town of Ma’batli, west of Afrin city center, and in two nearby villages on Thursday in cooperation with the Turkish Armed Forces, said the Turkish Red Crescent in a statement.

Turkish aid agencies have stepped up their humanitarian assistance efforts for Afrin since Turkish military and Free Syrian Army (FSA) liberated the city center from YPG/PKK terrorists on March 18.

The Turkish army has since also started taking measures to oversee security and order in the district, which remained a major hideout for YPG/PKK terrorists for several years.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear all terrorist elements from Afrin, amid growing threats from the region.

The Turkish General Staff has strongly maintained that the aim of the operation is to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.