Turkish disaster management agency distributes food parcels to Manbij in northern Syria

ISTANBUL

Türkiye's disaster management agency announced Sunday that it had distributed food packages to 1,365 families in the northern Syrian city of Manbij after its recent liberation from PKK/YPG terrorists.

The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement that humanitarian assistance teams distributed the food parcels in the city center of Manbij, cleared of the US-backed terror group as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom by the Syrian National Army (SNA) group on Dec. 9.

AFAD said it continues to stand by Syrians in their voluntary, safe and dignified return to their home country following the collapse of the decades-long Bashar Assad regime earlier this month.

Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron fist for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8 after anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus. The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters captured key cities across the country in a swift offensive that lasted less than two weeks.

With the regime's ouster, the terrorist PKK/YPG has been seeking to exploit the country's instability and power vacuum.

In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants, and the elderly.

The YPG is the PKK's offshoot in Syria, an area where for years the group has tried to establish a terrorist corridor along the Turkish border.

In recent years, Türkiye has deployed troops and worked with local allies such as the opposition Syrian National Army to prevent this and protect locals and the border from terrorist oppression.

*Writing by Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL

AFAD said it continues to stand by Syrians in their voluntary, safe and dignified return to their home country following the collapse of the decades-long Bashar Assad regime earlier this month.

With the regime's ouster, the terrorist PKK/YPG has been seeking to exploit the country's instability and power vacuum.

The YPG is the PKK's offshoot in Syria, an area where for years the group has tried to establish a terrorist corridor along the Turkish border.

In recent years, Türkiye has deployed troops and worked with local allies such as the opposition Syrian National Army to prevent this and protect locals and the border from terrorist oppression.

*Writing by Efe Ozkan