afrinpost-Exclusive
Amidst the onset of winter and the escalating need for heating materials, the pace of indiscriminate tree cutting has intensified in both natural and artificial forests, as well as olive groves in the occupied region of Afrin. This trend, driven by the demand for timber, charcoal production, and trade, is causing significant and far-reaching damages, extending beyond economic implications to environmental consequences, with the complete disappearance of several forests.
Reports indicate that armed individuals from the “Hamza Brigade” have commenced random tree-cutting operations, particularly targeting olive trees in various fields within their sectors. The affected areas include the region between the villages of Bablit and Marateh, where trees owned by citizens Haytham Mohammed and Abdul Mohammed have been adversely affected. Similar actions have been noted in Kafrdalla, Kawkaba, and Marateh.
In the village of Feqîra/Faqiran in Jindires, 95 trees, including those owned by Ahmed Oso, Ahmed Mamo, Aziz Rashid Hamo, and Yusuf Rashid Oso, were subjected to cutting. Additionally, members of the “Malek Shah” militia targeted 15 trees in the village of Çemma/Jaman in Sharan.
A report from the The Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Yekiti)) dated 9/12/2023 sheds light on numerous tree-cutting operations in the occupied Afrin region. Notably, on 8/12/2023, near Kfarshileh, the “Hamza Brigade” partially cut around 30 olive trees owned by Abdulaziz Jammo. On 25/11/2023, in Kafarzeet, militia members cut about 20 olive trees belonging to Murad Nabi Gule Khairi completely.
In recent weeks, near Midanki-Sharra/Sharran, the “Hamza Brigade” cut 40 olive trees owned by lawyer Abdulqader Abdulrahman and 100 trees owned by Nuri Muhammad Jabr, Muhammad Muhammad Jabr, and Nuri Hassan Toubal almost entirely.
In the mountains near Badiena and Hawar, extending to the mountains of Sheikh Bilal, Mosaka, and others in the Rajo region under the control of various militias, including the 112th Brigade, Al-Muntaser Billah, Ahrar al-Sharqiya Brigade, and the Hamza Brigade, the remaining natural forests are being cut down, with roots and trunks being uprooted, posing a threat to the complete destruction of these forests and eliminating any chances of regrowth.
In recent months, in the village of Çêa/Gabaliya in Rajo, armed individuals cut down dozens of almond trees, owned by forcibly displaced individuals, Mohamed Ali Rashid Ali lost 80 olive trees, while his cousin Mohamed Ali lost 50 olive trees completely from the roots, using various tools. It’s worth noting that the village of Çê is now deserted, turned into a military base for Turkish soldiers alongside the SNA allied militias.
