Turkish NGO urges public support after chemical attack

IDLIB

A Turkish aid agency Saturday urged people to help the civilians who fled Syria after this week’s deadly chemical attack and took shelter in camps along the Turkish border.

Erhan Yemelek, Syria coordinator for the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), told Anadolu Agency that the Assad regime attack in Khan Shaykhun, Idlib, Syria that killed some 100 people and injured hundreds had triggered a new wave of migration to Turkey.

"The IHH provides whatever help we can. We try to supply shelter, food, and healthcare for refugees in the wake of the chemical attack," he said.

"But the migration wave is gradually growing. We call on the Turkish people to extend a helping hand to these suffering people."

The IHH immediately deployed its teams to help the victims of Tuesday's attack, he said, adding that the region needs an inspection station for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exposure and attacks, due to the frequency of Assad regime attacks.

Following Tuesday's attack, approximately 400 families migrated to a refugee camp close to the Turkish border.

The attack came one day after regime aircraft reportedly carried out a similar chlorine gas attack on Al-Habit, Idlib, injuring dozens.

In a telephone call with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim Friday reiterated Turkey’s call for a safe zone in northern Syria, saying it is needed due to possible additional migration towards Turkey following recent incidents.

Reporing by Levent Tok and Selen Temizer; Writing by Esra Kaymak