AANES facilitates entry of 145 aid Trucks to quake-hit opposition areas
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said it had facilitated the entry of 145 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid into earthquake-stricken areas held by the Syrian opposition in northwest Syria.
On Feb. 12, the AANES announced it had opened all crossings within its areas of control for international humanitarian aid convoys and local initiatives to be delivered to earthquake-affected areas including those held by the government and the opposition.
Since then, two humanitarian aid convoys have entered the opposition-held areas through the AANES-run Umm Jloud crossing in Manbij under the name of “Support by Tribes and People of NE Syria” after the opposition rejected aid and support provided by the AANES.
On Feb. 9, Abd Hamed al-Mehbash, Co-chair of the Executive Council of AANES, said other Syrian parties are hindering the arrival of aid the AANES has prepared to be sent to the areas hit by the earthquakes.
The AANES posted on Facebook that it facilitated the passage of 60 trucks through the Umm Jloud crossing and 85 more through the Awn al-Dadat crossing, separating AANES-held areas from those of the Turkish-backed opposition, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA).
On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey and northwest Syria, leading to large-scale destruction and thousands of deaths.