Turkish foundation condemns Assad regime attacks

By Duygu Yener

ANKARA

Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) on Monday released a condemnation statement after Bashar al-Assad regime attacks hit the foundation’s temporary accommodation center in Idlib for the families evacuated from Syria’s Eastern Ghouta region.

“We condemn the regime air strikes on our settlement facility which offers shelter to over 2,500 evacuated people from besieged Eastern Ghouta,” the statement said.

“There were no but unfortunately four civilians were injured during the air strikes. We helped transfer injured people to the hospital and began repairing damaged tents,” it added.

Since the start of the Syrian war, the foundation has sent aid worth almost 200 million Turkish liras (over $52 million).

The foundation also provides clothing to needy families through its five charity stores in Syria.

“TDV will continue to help the region and oppressed people. We will also continue to work hard to end cruelty, blood tears,” the statement said.

The foundation provides humanitarian aid, school construction, stationery assistance, promotion of university training activities, building rehabilitation centers, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of mosques, training of religious officials, and development projects across the world.

On Feb. 24, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2401, which called for a cease-fire in Syria -- especially in Eastern Ghouta -- to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Despite the resolution, however, the regime and its allies early in March launched a major ground offensive -- backed by Russian air power -- aimed at capturing opposition-held parts of the district.

Since Feb. 19, more than 1,400 people have been killed in attacks by the regime and its allies in Eastern Ghouta, according to local civil-defense sources.

Home to some 400,000 residents, the district has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years which has prevented the delivery of badly needed humanitarian supplies.

Syria has been locked in a devastating conflict since early 2011 when the regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.

According to UN officials, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict to date.