TURKEY OPENS BORDER CROSSING FOR SYRIANS ESCAPING ISIL

Baku, Azerbaijan, 25 Dzulqa’dah 1435/20 September 2014 (MINA) –  Four thousand Syrians fleeing ISIL attack who passed through Turkish border gate on Friday will be settled in Turkey “within the shortest time possible and their needs will be met” said Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Davutoglu speaking during a visit to Azerbaijani capital Baku said all Syrians, regardless of “ethnic or sectarian discrimination”, will be accepted into Turkey, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Because of a sudden development our friends are trying to swiftly get organized of course. These our brothers will be settled within the shortest time possible and their needs will be met” added Davutoglu.

Syrians had been amassing for the last two days at the border district of Tal Abyad in Raqqa city as they waited for permission to cross.

Syrians are now gathering in Suruc district in Sanliurfa city.

From there they will be transferred to an empty school building in the village of Oylum.

Meanwhile, the fighting lingers in Ayn al-Arab area of Raqqa between militants led by ISIL and Kurdish PYD forces.

Six Syrians including three women were taken to Suruc State Hospital and placed under medical treatment there.

Syria has been plagued by quasi-constant fighting since the regime launched a violent crackdown in response to anti-government protests in March 2011.

The ensuing conflict spiraled into a civil war and has proved to become a breeding ground for ISIL-led militants, who have since gained control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.

The U.N. has stopped updating its death toll for the country because an official count had become too difficult to verify. At least 100,000 deaths were recorded in the last official count, in July 2013. (T/P001/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)