Ongoing violations | “National Army” factions fell 250 olive trees in rural Afrin to sell fire logs

Aleppo province: As Turkish-backed factions continue their violations against the remaining residents in Afrin, including seizure of properties and felling fruit-bearing trees with the aim of selling logs used for heating in winters, reliable SOHR sources have reported that factions of the “National Army” have felled nearly 250 olive trees in the past few days. These trees are distributed as follows:

 

• The villages of Qartaqlaq and Qastal Keshk in Sharan district: 165 trees.

 

• Tarandah village in Afrin countryside: 35 trees.

 

• Abla village in Bolbol district: 35 trees.

 

It is worth noting that a ton of logs is sold in Afrin for nearly 150 USD, while the factions sell logs for lower price. Logs of Afrin’s trees are often transported to Idlib in order to be sold at higher price.

 

This comes as a part of the ongoing violations and illegal logging by the factions in “Olive Branch” area.

 

On August 4, SOHR sources reported that members of Al-Hamza Division cut down more than 100 olive trees in the villages of Juwaiq in Afrin countryside and Kamruk in Maabatli district to sell them as fire logs.

 

Al-Hamza members threatened to imprison the owners of the felled olive trees if they filed complaints against them to Military Police or Turkish forces.

 

Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Murad faction cut down nearly 100 olive trees in Qarqina village in Sharan district in Afrin countryside. These olive trees belonged to a displaced man who was forced to displace from Sharan district.

 

Moreover, “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” militiamen sold a house in Al-Ashrafieh neighbourhood in Afrin for 800 USD. The house belonged to a civilian from Kakhirah village in Maabatli district.

 

Furthermore, Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah members sold two flats belonging to a man from Qarra Kul village in Bulbul district in Afrin countryside for 750 USD per flat.