ANHA Feb 2, 2016
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In an open letter published today, Afrin Canton authorities asked the EU, UN, USA, and the UN’s Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura to save Afrin residents from an imminent tragedy. The letter is as the following:
“It is 3 years that the Afrin Canton has been under siege. Terrorists have laid a siege from east and south, and have blocked any delivery of food and medical supplies to Afrin’s residents. The Turkish government has blocked all routes in the north and west, too. We want to let you know about the recent, illegal activities of the Turkish Army to seize Afrin Canton territory. What happened in Hammam village was a part of this plan.
The current siege on the Canton and blocking any delivery of food and medical supplies would pose a threat to lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians. There are tens of thousands of IDPs (Internally Displaced Peoples) from other parts of Syria who have resided in Afrin, too. Basic life requirements have reduced and all routes are shut down. This might lead to a human tragedy. At the same time, human rights organizations are turning a blind eye to what has been happening, too. Diseases such a cholera, leishmania, and flue are becoming widespread. This is due to lack of any medical supplies delivery.
Given your profound impact on the course the Syrian Civil War could take and your relations with the Turkish state, we, hereby, urge you to intervene as soon as possible by putting pressure on the Turkish government to open a humanitarian corridor to Afrin.”