Dozens more Turkmen reach Hatay after walking for 40 days in tough winter conditions after being forced by Hashd al-Shaabi militia to leave their houses in the Iraqi city surrounded by Iran-backed militia and PKK terrorists
More Turkmens have left the Iraqi province of Tal Afar, surrounded by the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militia and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists, as dozens more who departed from Tal Afar reached Turkey's border city of Hatay on Wednesday amid tough winter conditions.
The civilians said they barely survived due to the tough winter conditions, famine and health issues.
"There are babies, including a 10-day-old baby, and pregnant women who reached Hatay. We has a very long trip. Some of the elders cannot complete the journey," a war victim said.
"We survived by eating grass and at least three people died on the way to Turkey. Some of the women gave birth to their children on the way," the victim said.
The Syrians thanked Hatay Governorate for taking them under its protection.
Hundreds of Turkmen civilians have reached Hatay in a week. Many of them said they walked up to 40 days in harsh winter conditions to the Turkish city.
Turkmens prayed to God and thanked that they could reach Turkey as some of them said they stuck in the muddle and barely survived
The civilians' journey began as they were forced to leave the city by the Hashd Shaabi militia known to be with its human right violations.
"The worst part is that the militia members were also Turkmen who forced us to leave our homes," they said.
Amnesty International said that Shia militias have committed “serious human rights violations, including war crimes" against civilians fleeing Daesh-held territory.
The UN in July said it had a list of more than 640 Sunni Muslim men and boys reportedly abducted by Shia militias in Fallujah, and about 50 others who were summarily executed or tortured to death.
The Mosul operation is being conducted with the participation of Iraqi soldiers, U.S. soldiers, Turkish-trained fighters and Peshmerga forces. The operation began October 17.
In mid-2014, the Daesh terrorist group captured the northern city of Mosul and overran vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.
