Violent clashes that started on 8 December around the Tishreen Dam in North and East Syria continue. On 8 January, a vigil was launched against the attacks launched by Turkey and the affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA). Since 8 December, 26 civilians, including journalists, artists and politicians, have lost their lives and at least 227 people have been wounded due to the airstrikes launched by Turkey and affiliated paramilitary groups. Many ambulances have also been targeted in the attacks so far. While 2 ambulances were completely destroyed, 3 health workers lost their lives.

 

'WAR CRIME'

 

Yıldız Ok Orak, Co-chair of the Amed (Diyarbakır) Branch of the Union of Health and Social Service Labourers (SES), emphasised that targeting civilians and medics in Tishreen is against the law of war. Yıldız Ok Orak said, "Unfortunately, according to the information we have recently received from Tishreen, there is an attack against the civilian population. Attacks against medics and ambulances are already a violation of international laws of war. No matter where the war takes place or under what conditions, the attack on medics is a war crime and we condemn this crime."

 

Pointing out that such attacks cause insecurity in the society at a time when the solution of the Kurdish issue is being discussed, Yıldız Ok Orak said, "While negotiations are being held on the one hand, the fact that there is a war somewhere else and that there are different practices within Turkey confuses us. This insecure environment makes everyone uneasy. The attacks against civilians and health professionals shake our confidence in this process. We want wars to end, peace to prevail everywhere, and peoples to have the right to determine their own future."

 

Yıldız Ok Orak called for an immediate end to the attacks on North and East Syria and added, "The conflicts in Syria and Turkey must end, peace must prevail everywhere and environments where people can express themselves freely must be built. Civilian populations and medics must be kept safe in every environment and the laws of war must be respected."