AANES withdraws aid convoy prepared for quake-affected Syria’s northwest
MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – After nine days, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) withdrew on Thursday an aid convoy that was prepared to enter the earthquake-affected areas in northwest Syria which are under the control of the Turkish-backed opposition.
Since Feb. 8, the AANES has attempted to deliver aid to the earthquake-afflicted areas in the northwest of the country but it has been stranded at the Umm Jloud crossing in Manbij, northern Syria, between the AANES and Turkish-backed opposition factions.
Sadiq Muhammad al-Khalaf, co-chair of the Fuel Directorate in the AANES, said that the administration decided to pull back the aid convoy consisting of 30 tanks of fuel after nine days of waiting for the opposition’s approval.
The aid-loaded trucks had halted for nine days on the Umm Jloud crossing, as Turkish-backed opposition prevented the convey from crossing.
while on Wednesday at night, the 100-convoy of fuel tanks, sent by the AANES, entered the government-held areas to reach the Kurdish majority areas of Aleppo after days of waiting at the al-Tayha crossing.
The withdrawal decision was taken due to the opposition’s rejection to receive humanitarian aid sent from the AANES, the co-chair of the Fuel Directorate added.
Officials of the AANES read the statement of the withdrawal decision at Umm Jloud crossing saying that “Unfortunately, after the passage of more than seven days since the rejection of our support to the earthquake-affected people, we will withdraw the aid convoy that was waiting at the Umm Jloud crossing and was prepared to enter the affected areas in Syria’s northwest.”
“The convoy was retreated back because of the insistence of Turkey and its mercenaries to politicize humanitarian issues at the expense of the helpless victims,” the statement stressed.
Syria is divided into different areas of influence, including government-held areas, those of the Turkish-backed opposition, and the AANES areas. Both the government and the opposition areas are the most affected by the earthquake.
At dawn on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Turkey, killing thousands and injuring many more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.