Turkish aid agency opens charity store in Syria's Idlib

By Fikret Kavgali</p> <p>HATAY, Turkey (AA) – A Turkish aid agency opened a charity store in Syria’s northern Idlib, an agency representative said on Saturday. </p> <p>Zeki Tahiroglu, local coordinator of Istanbul-based Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), said the clothing store will benefit around 500 war victims on a weekly basis.</p> <p>Tahiroglu said it was the 30th store opened by IHH across Syria.</p> <p>The foundation will continue to open more stores in various regions of Syria, Tahiroglu added.</p> <p> </p> <p>The IHH has been carrying out aid projects in war-torn Syria since the country’s devastating conflict began in 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity. </p> <p>Since Afrin’s liberation in March of last year by Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, the aid agency has distributed hot meals to an estimated one million Syrians. </p> <p>In January of 2018, Turkey launched the operation with the stated aim of purging Afrin of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists.</p> <p> </p> <p>* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev</p> <p>