Fires by Turkish mercenaries pose desertification risks
The Violations Documentation Center in North and East Syria has reported that fires caused by Turkish occupation mercenaries have ravaged large areas of fields and forests in occupied Afrin, destroying vegetation.
In the village of Sarincik in Sharan, occupied Afrin, intentional fires in the surrounding forests have damaged over 300 olive trees belonging to local residents.
According to the report from the Violations Documentation Center, the fires also affected extensive forested areas and trees around villages near the city of Balbala, such as Beka and Zara, as well as villages near the city of Rajo, including Adama, Simala, Bilelko, and Hubko.
Additionally, fires have spread to the forests around the village of Atmana in Rajo city, destroying large areas of vegetation and severely damaging nearby olive fields, burning more than 400 olive trees.
Despite repeated calls from residents, the so-called "civil defense teams and White Helmets" have not intervened to extinguish the fires, leading to their spread and increased damage.
The Violations Documentation Center states that these fires are intentionally set by Turkish occupation mercenaries, threatening the region with desertification.
Initial damage estimates include:
- Rajo:
- 372 hectares of land and forests planted with cypress, olive, and cherry trees burned in Medana villages, including Simalka.
- 40 hectares burned in Hassan village.
- Approximately 1,960 cherry trees were burned in Mediana areas up to Simalka.
- Around 3,760 olive trees burned.
- Mobata:
- 160 hectares burned in Afraza village.
Tree Cutting:
In addition to the fires, mercenary groups, under Turkish direction, are systematically targeting vegetation in Afrin by cutting down trees.
Over 60 olive trees were cut from Abdul Khalil’s field in Damlia village, Rajo district, during the last week of July.
25 olive trees and 5 almond trees belonging to Saeed Hussein were cut in the same village. In Joka village, Afrin, the Syrian National Army mercenaries cut about 18 olive trees owned by Mohammed Mahmoud.
A-H
ANHA
