First group from Aleppo reach safe zone

By Ismihan Ozguven, Anil Bagrik

HATAY, Turkey (AA) – The first group of people who were evacuated from Aleppo has reached the opposition-controlled safe zone in Syria, said Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the Cilvegozu Border Gate in Hatay, Turkey’s border province with Syria, Kaynak said that the first civilian group from Aleppo has been evacuated to a safe zone in 20 buses.

“[Evacuees] have arrived at the Free Syrian Army-controlled safe zone just outside Aleppo,” Kaynak said.

“There are 30-35 injured among those. Some of them have high level burns and, unfortunately, some are critically injured,” he added.

Kaynak said that Turkey was considering setting up tents in a safe zone in Syria in case of any call from the opposition forces on the ground.

“As the Republic of Turkey, we are also working on those who are sick, wounded, elderly, and children who need special care,” he added.

Noting there were around 80-100,000 people in Aleppo, Kaynak said: “Idlib does not have the physical conditions to accommodate so many people.”

According to an agreement between the Assad regime and Syrian opposition groups, civilians evacuated from eastern Aleppo will continue to head towards Idlib, which is located near the border with Turkey.