Basic needs being met in northern Syria: Provincial governorate

ŞANLIURFA

Sweep activities are ongoing in two Syrian districts after Turkey cleared the area of terrorists, the governor’s office in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa has said.

The governor’s office said on Nov. 18 that urban services have been carried out in the deprived towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn, which had been for many years ruled by the YPG, which is deemed by Turkey as the Syrian offshoot of the illegal PKK.

Turkish security forces and its allied Syrian opposition groups started the “Operation Peace Spring” in northern Syria east of the Euphrates River to ensure security on its southern border and to eliminate PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Basic needs of locals such as drinking water, food, energy, and hygiene are starting to be met, the governorate said.

Debris removal and cleaning efforts are also ongoing in the region that was affected by mortar and rocket attacks by the terrorists, it added.

On Oct. 22, Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which the YPG would pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia would mount joint patrols there.