Planning to cross to Syria from Hatay province?

Those travelling to Hatay province in southern Turkey should be aware that the area is becoming more volatile.  This area of Turkey is commonly used by journalists looking to either cross to Syria or an area from which they can cover the Syrian conflict more safely.

At the weekend several people were injured in Reyhanli, on the Turkey-Syrian border, as demonstrators were protesting against what they say is an inadequate response by the government to the twin bombings in the town the week before, which left at least 51 people dead and dozens wounded.

Reyhanli is located close to the Syrian border and like many other Turkish border towns, has been affected by conflict spillover from Syria in the past.

This together with the large influx of Syrian refugees since 2011 have placed strain on local communities and reports of attacks on Syrian vehicles in the affected area point to a possible heightened anti-Syria sentiment in the region.

As the conflict in Syria is unlikely to be resolved in the short-term, further conflict-related incidents, including associated protests, are anticipated in the near-term; future protests may possibly end in violence.

RPS Partnership advises those travelling in Syrian registered vehicles to be especially vigilant. When approaching the shared border, be cautious and ensure that you are working with trusted locals. Anyone currently working in Reyhanli is advised to avoid all protest gatherings as a precaution due to the possibility of violent civil unrest.

Contact RPS Partnership for more information on working in this area, or crossing into Syria. We can assist you in your planning and assessing all risks. We can help you write your full risk assessment. Contact us at [email protected].

Photo: www.demotix.com

Source: Red24