Several thousand people on 17 December protested on the Turkish border against the genocide taking place in Aleppo that has prevented deliveries of much-needed aid. The protestors arrived in bus and car convoys from across the country under the slogan “Open the Way for Aleppo” close to Turkey’s Cilvegozu border gate which has become a key hub for transporting the wounded from Aleppo. They unfurled banners reading “Aleppo cannot be left under bombardment”.
The action was organised by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a Turkish Muslim charity, which is playing a large role in the transport of aid for Aleppo and pressing for greater access. Evacuation from the rebel-held areas of Aleppo has been suspended after renewed clashes – putting on hold a fragile ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and Turkey.
“Murderer Russia, get out of Syria!” chanted the protestors gathering around three kilometres from the Turkish border crossing Cilvegozu that faces Syria’s Bab al-Hawa. “Iran will have to defend its actions in front of the ummah (Islamic community)!”
The convoys also brought aid to be delivered to Syrians being evacuated from Aleppo. According to the IHH, thousands of cars and over 1,500 aid trucks have arrived in the border area as a result of their appeal. “God willing, we will not leave our brothers to the hands of the tyrants,” Kubra, a young female protester, was reported as saying.