AFRIN, ROJAVA
In a report issued at the beginning of 2020, the Human Rights Organization in Afrin said that Turkish-backed jihadist groups cut down at least 500,000 trees and burned large areas of fields in the region.
Since the invasion and occupation of Afrin in March 2018, armed jihadist groups have seized lands, cut trees, and sold them.
The forests are being cut down by the jihadists who justify their actions by claiming that the lands belong to Kurdish parties or members of Kurdish parties. They prevent the locals from approaching their agricultural lands, which are only allowed to be entered by militia.
There were 18 million olive trees in Afrin, according to reports issued by the Autonomous Administration, in 2017.
The Turkish offensive on Afrin in 2018 led to the displacement of more than 300,000 indigenous people from Afrin, leaving their lands to be looted and violated by Turkish-backed groups.
