Pakistani organization constructs settlement in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – A Pakistani organization, in collaboration with Turkey’s Diyanet Foundation, is contributing to the construction of a new settlement in Afrin region, northwestern Syria.
The Pakistani Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF) and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, an NGO headquartered in Istanbul, began in March the construction of a new settlement named “al-Madina Village” in Sharran district, northeast of the city of Afrin.
North Press observed a sign bearing the name of the FGRF, also known as Faizan. The organization claims to operate within an integrated ecological system, aiming to create a long-term impact through humanitarian, food, and developmental aid, with a focus on tree planting and environmental development.
North Press contacted the organization, which is based in Karachi, to inquire about their awareness of the ownership of the land where the settlements in Afrin are being built, the displacement of the indigenous Kurdish population, and the ongoing deforestation in the region, including on the very land where the organization is sponsoring the settlement, despite its environmental focus.
While the FGRF responded to the initial contact from North Press, it has not answered the specific questions and inquiries mentioned above, even after three days of waiting at the time of publication.
The new settlement consists of 84 housing units and is planned to house Arab families from Homs. The construction is expected to be completed by October.
The settlement was built on land that was previously a pine forest, which was cut down by the Turkish-backed Sultan Murad faction under the supervision of faction leader Araba Idris.
Since the Turkish occupation, Islamist organizations supported by Turkey have constructed multiple settlements in Afrin to house thousands of SNA militants’ families who came from other areas of Syria. However, the original people of Afrin, mainly Kurds, have been forcibly displaced and resided in deserted villages and IDP camps in the northern countryside of Aleppo, northwestern Syria.
The Kurdish city of Afrin has been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), since March 2018 following the so-called “Olive Branch” military operation to push away the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of protecting “Turkish national security.”