Syria’s Afrin IDPs protest against Russians demanding break of economic blockade
ALEPPO NORTHERN COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – Hundreds of the internal displaced people (IDP) of Afrin region who reside in the northern countryside of Aleppo protested in front of the Russian base on Saturday and demanded to end the blockade imposed on them by the security checkpoints of the Syrian government.
The protesters carried banners that written: “Do not make the people a victim of the policies… No for blockade policy on the people of Afrin.”
The Russian forces placed a barrier in front of the protesters, in addition to placing several mines in front of the base to prevent their approaching.
“We came to demand our rights of heating oil and logistical materials,” Muhammad Nuri Horo, one of the protesters, said.
“The Russians have laid mines in front of us as if we are terrorists,” he added.
An hour after the protest, a delegation consisted of tribal elders went to meet with Russian officers in front of the Russian headquarters to convey the demands of the protestors.
After a half-hour meeting with Syrian and Russian officers, the delegation told the protesters, “they listened to the demands that focused on the right of the IDPs to break the blockade imposed on the northern countryside of Aleppo.”
The Russians promised to work out solutions to the protesters’ demands, according to the delegation.
Private sources told North Press, “The Russian forces require the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration to allow the entry of fuel and basic materials in the event that they obtain 40% of the fuel allocated to the Afrin IDPs.”
It is reported that the security checkpoints of the Syrian government stationed in the city of Manbij have been preventing the entry of fuel, medicine and flour into the northern countryside of Aleppo for more than a month.
The Turkish forces and its affiliated armed opposition groups took control of the Afrin region after a military operation in 2018.