HRW urges Turkish goernment to clear minefield at Syrian border

A human rights group has urged Turkey to clear a minefield located at its border with Syria, where over 2,000 Syrian refugees are camped.

The refugees living in their cars after fleeing from the ISIL Takfiri militants’ onslaught in Syria are stranded in the minefield because Turkey refuses the entry of vehicles, and the refugees refuse to give up their belongings, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday, Press TV reported.

Three refugees have already been killed and nine others wounded in the minefield.

“To fall victim to a landmine after losing your home and fleeing your country is a fate no one should have to endure,” said HRW arms director Steve Goose in a statement.

The Turkish government has announced that over 600,000 mines were laid by the military along the Syrian border between 1957 and 1998 to stop illegal border crossings.

According to HRW, there have been at least 70 land mine explosions in the area over the past two months.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.