Turkey braces for possible refugee influx from Mosul

FES, Morocco 

Turkey is preparing for a possible refugee influx from the Iraqi city of Mosul amid talk of an international military campaign on the city that is currently under the control of Daesh, Deputy PM Numan Kurtulmus told The Anadolu Agency.

"AFAD (Turkey’s emergency agency) has the organizational capabilities to allow into Turkey 197,000 people from Kobani in three days," Kurtulmus said Thursday during his visit to Morocco. "In this regard, we are making all kinds of preparations."

He added that Turkey was preparing for all contingencies, working on refugee response issues such as the first encounter, border crossings, accommodation, food supplies and healthcare services.

Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, has been under the control of the Daesh group since June 2014. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIL.

U.S. Central Command has recently divulged plans for a military offensive to take back the city of Mosul by the U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi government. U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had later criticized the disclosure of the military plans for a spring attack, calling the Feb. 19 U.S. Central Command statement as "incorrect."    

Turkey, included in the coalition but not actively participating in military operations, has vowed support for Baghdad in the event of a potential military campaign. Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yılmas has said, "Turkey is ready to provide intelligence and logistics support in Iraq's anti-terror fight."