Idlib Demilitarized Zone Will Not Hinder Aid Distribution In Region - Turkish NGO Head

The establishment of a demilitarized zone in the Syrian province of Idlib will not be a roadblock for humanitarian efforts in the region, Bulent Yildirim, president of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO, told Sputnik on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) The establishment of a demilitarized zone in the Syrian province of Idlib will not be a roadblock for humanitarian efforts in the region, Bulent Yildirim, president of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO, told Sputnik on Thursday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to create a demilitarized zone along the contact line of the armed opposition and government troops in Idlib by October 15. Additionally, the defense ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on stabilizing the situation in the province's de-escalation zone. The decision was made amid rumors about an impending Syrian government offensive in the province.

"We continue to sustain shelter, food, health services, and education in all the regions which could not get enough aid, such as tent cities, camps as well as other areas that receive IDPs [internally displaced persons]. We do not think that establishment of demilitarized zones will constitute an obstacle for humanitarian relief provision," Yildirim said.

He stated that the NGO was in contact with both Turkish and Russian authorities concerning provision of humanitarian aid.

Yildirim also noted that aid workers should be supported by all sides of the Syrian conflict to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

"To prevent a humanitarian crisis in conflict zones the work of the humanitarian aid agencies should be allowed. The security of the humanitarian workers should be sustained according to the UN reports. All the related parties should help for the works of humanitarian agencies," Yildirim said.

He added that to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria, security must also be restored outside of Idlib.

"Of course, the precondition for the recovery of the humanitarian situation is not only related with Idlib but also related with making all the Syrian cities into secure places," Yildirim said.

The Syrian civil war has been raging for over seven years, with government forces fighting numerous terror groups and opposition factions. Turkey alongside Iran and Russia are guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria.