19 March 2018•Update: 19 March 2018
By Lale Koklu
HATAY, Turkey
Turkey's disaster management agency and Red Crescent distributed hot meals to civilians in Syria's Afrin, which was liberated during the ongoing Operation Olive Branch.
Mehmet Gulluoglu, the head of Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD), and Ibrahim Altan, head of the Turkish Red Crescent Society, also took part during the distribution of meals in villages of Diwan Al Fawqani and Deir Ballut.
The teams also distributed food aid packages to the civilians -- mainly women and children -- who expressed their gratitude to the Turkish authorities.
Gulluoglu said the AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent are trying to meet the basic needs, including food aid and hygiene kits, of civilians.
The distribution of humanitarian aid will continue in the region, he added.
Altan, for his part, said nearly 1,000 civilians received food aid.
During the distribution on Monday, there were warm moments between Turkish army soldiers and the Syrians in the town. The soldiers promised that they would always support the civilians.
Gulluoglu said they would detect the needs in Afrin and work together with the locals to meet the needs in the region.
"Our President, and the Prime Minister, have given instructions on cooperation with other aid agencies and meeting the needs of the civilians in this area as quickly as possible. We will be working on this," he said.
Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch has aimed to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.
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 has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming any civilians.
Afrin has been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without a fight.
