ISTANBUL 

A human rights organization has reported a massive displacement of civilians in areas occupied by the YPG/PKK terrorist group in eastern Syria.   

“Areas held by YPG/PKK have recently seen mass displacement of civilians towards neighboring countries and Europe,” Farhad Osu, head of the Rasd Syria Network for Human Rights, told Anadolu Agency.  

“Most of the migrants are young people who are forcibly recruited by the terror group,” he said.  

Osu said the terrorist group forces migrants to pay hefty sums of money to be allowed to leave their areas “as most traffickers are members of the organization.”  

He also cited the deteriorating economic conditions, taxes imposed by the YPG/PKK and lack of jobs for pushing residents to leave the areas held by the terror group.  

“Arbitrary measures taken by the terrorist group against civilians such as detentions are making the situation even worse,” he added.  

“YPG/PKK terrorists plant landmines in towns and cities and terrorizing residents, making them eager to leave the area in search for safety,” Osu said.  

Although the YPG/PKK controls most of the oil resources in eastern Syria, local residents suffer from very difficult economic conditions.   

*Sohaila Barghash contributed to this report from Ankara