Turkey Tackling Power Woes For Civilians In N.Syria

Power supply problems in an area of northern Syria recently liberated from YPG/PKK terrorists by a Turkish anti-terror operation are on the mend, said Turkey's National Defense Ministry on Sunday.

Having largely cleared YPG/PKK elements from northern Syrian territories, the Turkish army has accelerated efforts to ensure stability in the region by meeting the basic needs of war-weary locals, including in rural areas of the city of Tal Abyad.

According to an official ministry statement, progress is being made to solve power-related problems.

"Repairs began on the 22nd of November for the Mabruka electricity transformer station which feeds the south of the M4 highway and the Operation Peace Spring area," said the statement.

It added: "After most of the repairs for the Mabruka electricity transformer station were completed, the provision of electricity from the Tishrin Damn to the Operation Peace Spring area was established after meetings that took place with Russian military officials in Ayn Isa.

"In this respect, electricity was provided to the Tal Abyad countryside, and work is ongoing to provide it to Tal Abyad's centre and the Ras al-Ayn region."

The area's water supply problems are also largely solved, as the Allouk Water Reservoir feeding Ras al-Ayn, Darbasiyah, and Hasakah was fully restored and measures were taken to ensure its full operational capacity, said the ministry.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned northern Syria safe zone.

Ankara wants to rid the YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw so the safe zone can be created to allow for the safe return of some two million refugees.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot. -