The local council in the town of Tel Abyad in rural Al-Raqqa said it had begun the maintenance of the border crossing with Turkey, adding that the crossing will be used to transport relief and medical supplies to the town as a first step.
The council said that its machinery has begun the removal of debris from the facility since Monday, adding that work is underway to remove the landmines that were left by the PYD militia before it withdrew from the town.
Head of the Council, Wael Hamdo, said that the border crossing will be re-opened soon, pointing out that the refugees and IDP will be able to return to their homes once the appropriate conditions for their return are created. He said that the council is working tirelessly to meet the needs of the local population and provide them with basic services.
Al-Hamdo stressed that those who want to return to the town will be able to do so in the coming few days, after which the crossing will function as a commercial one. He stressed the need for urgent for relief aid for the civilian population.
The local council and the Turkish Red Crescent earlier distributed thousands of food and relief baskets to civilians in and around Tel Abyad. The council is also working to repair water and electricity networks and to meet the basic needs of civilians through communications with Turkish and international organizations. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
