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150,000 Syrians returned to Afrin after Turkey's military operation
150,000 Syrians returned to Afrin after Turkey's military operation
A total of 150,000 Syrians have returned to Syria’s northern city of Afrin and life is returning to normal in the town in the wake of Turkey's “Operation Olive Branch.” Click through for the exclusive story in photos by İdris Emen, Fevzi Kızılkoyun and Selahattin Sönmez...
Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” in January this year along with elements of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to clear Afrin of the YPG.
Ankara sees the YPG as the offshoot of the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. (Photo: A "torture room" once used by PKK/YPG's members in Afrin)
Each day, around 1,000 people are returning to the city and the population across the Afrin district is now estimated to be around 350,000.
As people have begun returning to their home town, businesses, particularly construction, trade and production activities in Afrin are also booming. Meanwhile, education, health and judicial services are back and running. Some 120 olive factories have become operational again.
The damaged hospitals have been repaired in Afrin to receive patients. Two large new hospitals have been built in Afrin and Jindires, while community health centers have also been launched in other areas.
Turkish and local doctors are now providing health services at those health centers while medicines are brought from Turkey.
Newly appointed local judges and prosecutors are working at courthouses that have been repaired by Turkey.
A 1,700-strong police force that has received training in Turkey is patrolling the streets.
The police force, which also includes women officers, fights smuggling, financial crime and organized crime. Several check points have been set up around the city to provide security.
After “Operation Olive Branch,” seven districts—Afrin, Shaykh al-Hadid, Jindires, Mabatli, Bulbul, Rajo and Sharran—have been established that are governed by local councils. The councils that have 20 members in Afrin and Rajo and 15 members in other districts—make all the decisions on a variety of issues, such as municipal services and providing clean water.
In the wake of the military operation, Turkey has appointed an official responsible for coordinating the education services. As part of efforts to revive the education system, a total of 204 school buildings have been repaired.
Local teachers are now working at those schools attended by 47,718 students. Most of the local teachers are women and girls account for 60 percent of the students who are also taught Turkish, Kurdish and English in addition to Arabic.
“My dream is to be a doctor. I want to go university in Turkey,” said Halida Abid, a high school student.
Click through for more photos from Afrin...
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