Turkey is reportedly building new housing settlements in the Afrin (Efrîn) region, which it has been controlling with the help of paramilitary groups since 2018, ANHA reported on Sunday.
According to the report by ANHA, these homes are being constructed in the Kafr Rûmê village in the Shera district of Afrin. The project involves the construction of 50 four-storey buildings, with plans for an additional 200 homes near the village.
The Turkish incursion into Afrin in 2018 has had a significant impact on the region’s demographic makeup. As a result of the attacks, many Kurdish people were forced to migrate, and numerous houses were built with financial support from Qatar, Kuwait, and Palestinian associations. These houses were intended to change the ethnic composition of the region, effectively Turkifying it. Today, many of these houses are occupied by groups backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The construction of these new settlements raises concerns about the long-term consequences for Afrin and its original inhabitants. Critics argue that this further entrenches the demographic changes initiated by the Turkish intervention, leading to the displacement and marginalisation of the Kurdish population. Human rights organisations and advocates have criticised this development, emphasising the importance of respecting the rights and autonomy of indigenous communities.