By the Turkish Army, Click to see full-size image
On April 26, the Turkish Army revealed, through its official account on Twitter, that the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) had established a camp in the town of Mayhmudiyah in the southwestern part of the Afrin area to host militants who had wihdrawn from the Eastern Qalamun region. The Turkish Army added that the camp is under its direct protection.
By the Turkish Army, Click to see full-size image
By the Turkish Army, Click to see full-size image
Over 3,000 militants and civilians withdrew from the Eastern Qalamun region during the last week in the framework of an evacuation deal that was reached between them and the Syrian government on April 19.
The Mayhmudiyah camp is the first clear example of how Turkey is settling its proxies in the Afrin area, which was captured from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) on March 24. Many Kurdish activists have warned on several occasions that Turkey is planning to change the demography in Afrin by settling its proxies there.
According to Kurdish sources, the Turkish attack on the Afrin area resulted in the displacement of more than 150,000 civilians, mostly Syrian Kurds. Turkey claims that it will allow these civilians to return to their homes in Afrin, but this is yet to happen.
