24 March 2018•Update: 26 March 2018
By Sarp Ozer
AFRIN, Syria
The Turkish Red Crescent has distributed hot meals to 5,000 people in Syria’s Afrin region, according to the aid agency’s head on Saturday.
Talking to reporters in Afrin, Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik said: “I can say that mobilization has been initiated in the region by the Turkish Red Crescent in coordination with other nongovernmental organizations and AFAD [Disaster and Emergency Management Authority].”
Around 60 journalists are visiting Afrin as part of a press tour organized by Turkish General Staff and Turkey’s Directorate General of Press and Information.
Another aid agency Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) also has the capacity to distribute hot meals to 10,000 people in the region.
Meanwhile, Adil Siraz, the AFAD’s provincial director in southern Turkey's Kilis province, said 2,000 packages of humanitarian aid had been sent to the region so far.
Syria’s Afrin region has been taken under “complete” control as part of Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch, the Turkish military said on Saturday.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
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 terrorist oppression and cruelty.
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 also said only terror targets are being destroyed and that "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.
