Turkish shelling of schools threats future of 1.500 students in NE Syria
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Though Turkey claims it is only targeting military sites in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES)-held areas; about eight schools have been destroyed in the countryside of Hasakah, north Syria, due to recent Turkish escalation.
“About 1.500 students are deprived of education due to the destruction caused to their schools,” Bahia Ma’amo, an official in the educational complex in Tel Tamr, said on Monday.
The recent Turkish escalation caused destruction and the closed eight schools in the countryside of Tel Tamr in the northern countryside of Hasakah, according to education officials in AANES.
Ma’amo said that the ongoing Turkish shelling prompted hundreds of students to stay away from school, fearing for their lives.
Attacks on schools during conflict are one of the six grave violations identified and condemned by the UN Security Council.
Schools on frontlines with Turkey in the villages of al-Dardara, al-Bouida, Makhtala, al-Dabib, Sukar al-Ahimer, al-Sousa and Gozaliya north of Hasakah were closed.
Turkey alongside the Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), targeted power networks, council and municipal building in the village of Quboor al-Qarajneh, which provide services to dozens of villages north of the town, in addition to targeting churches and mosques in villages on the frontlines.
Ma’amo told North Press that the schools of the villages of al-Dabib and al-Ghaybish were partially destroyed, while those of Gozeliya and al-Dardara were completely destroyed and now they are out of service for being targeted with heavy weapons.
Since the Turkish army and the SNA factions are stationed along a space of about 40 km in the countryside of Tel Tamr, residents of villages on the frontlines have suffered from repeated attacks though Turkey signed two ceasefire agreements.
Following the Turkish incursion in October 2019, Turkey signed two ceasefire agreements, one with Russia and the other with the US stipulating ceasing all hostilities and the withdrawal of the SDF 32 km away from the Turkish border.
The SDF did withdrew from the border areas according to the agreement, but Turkey continues targeting the area.
Dozens of villages on the seam lines in the countryside of Tel Tamr are almost empty of their residents, who have fled to camps, safe villages, and shelters in Tel Tamr and the city of Hasakah, according to officials in the town’s local council.