Violations | Turkish-backed factions cut down thousands of forest trees overlooking Meydanki lake in Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo
Aleppo Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:
Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that Ankara-backed factions continue to cut off thousands of forest trees located in fields and forests overlooking Medanki Lake in Sharan area in Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo.
According to Syrian Observatory sources, some of the forests surrounding Lake Medanki have been transformed into a desert after the trees were systematically cut down by Turkish-backed factions, with the aim of selling them as firewood.
In December 2020, SOHR sources reported that gunmen of “al-Hamza Division” cut down some 750 fruit olive trees owned by civilians in Ma’abatli area in Afrin countryside, north-west Aleppo, to sell these trees as firewood in winter.