Turkey’s NGO constructs new settlement in Syria’s Afrin

AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – Turkey and an organization affiliated with it have constructed a new settlement in the Kurdish region of Afrin in northwest Syria, North Press correspondent reported on Monday.

The new settlement is situated on Jabal al-Ahlam (al-Ahlam Mountain) area that is situated to the south of the city of Afrin, and it is the biggest settlement in that area.

The settlement consists of about 100 apartments and it is expected to be completed in mid-2024.

Families of the militants of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), especially those who have come from Homs and Rif Dimashq governorates will be housed in those apartments.

The city of Afrin and the 365 villages affiliated with it have been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions since March 2018 following the so-called “Olive Branch” military operation to push away the Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of protecting “Turkish national security.”

Since then, Islamist organizations supported by Turkey have constructed multiple settlements to house thousands of the SNA militants’ families who came from other areas of Syria. However, the original people of Afrin, mainly the Kurds, have been forcibly displaced and resided in deserted villages and IDP camps in the northern countryside of Aleppo, northwestern Syria.

According to reports, the number of the settlements built in Afrin has reached about 50.

Observers argue that Turkey’s efforts aim to change the demographic structure and erase the historical identity of the Kurdish population in the region, This objective is evident in Turkey’s seizure of the properties and lands belonging to the Kurds without their consent.

By As’ad al-Haj