Syrian Turkmen ask for Turkey's backing

GAZIANTEP, Turkey

Syria's Turkmen have asked for Turkey's help to stop them being driven out of their homeland by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants, on Wednesday.

Huseyin Abdullah Dede, Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Syria Aleppo Turkmen, called for Turkey's government, political parties and citizens to support their struggle against the militants.

"We do not want Syrian Turkmen to be refugees," said Dede. "People are coming to the Turkish side of the Turkey-Syria border due to clashes in the region. We want to stay in our homelands and do not want to be a burden to anyone."

Dede claimed the issue needs to be discussed at Geneva II so that pathways for humanitarian aid into blockaded Turkmen regions can be made. He added that ten people have died of hunger so far. 

Hamis Turk, a representative for Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep city, says that Syrian Turkmen have been fighting against ISIL by themselves and need Turkey's assistance. 

"The only place where we can shelter is Turkey, but we don't want to shelter as refugees. We want Turkey's support," he said.

Syrian Turkmen refugees bussed to Turkish town

Around 500 Turkmen who have been driven from Syria were bussed to Turkey's south eastern town of Viransehir on Wednesday.

The group consisted of mostly women and children who were waiting on the Turkish border after being driven from the town of Jarabulus in northern Syria by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants.

The Turkmen were subjected to health checks and then taken to their new destination in buses provided by the Presidency of Disaster and Emergency State. 

The number of Turkmen fleeing camps in the region is reported to have exceeded 2,200 this week. 

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