Turkey refutes allegations that it has done nothing for Kobani crisis

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan refuted on Tuesday the allegations that his country has done nothing for the crisis in Kobani, a Kurdish city located in Syria close to the Turkish border that is currently struggling against falling into the hands of the Islamic State.

Meanwhile, he called on the United States to intensify its aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters, who are currently controlling parts of northern Syria.

“It’s great unfairness to claim that Turkey is doing nothing,” Turkish media quoted Akdoğan as saying. He pointed out that Turkey is and has been doing everything in its power to help when it comes to humanitarian issues.

He added that his country has opened its doors to 172,684 Syrian refugees feeling Kobani in recent days, saying that this good gesture sends a humanitarian message to the world.

He continued: “Turkey will not be content with the fall of Kobani into the hands of terrorist organisations; any attempts of violence and harm threatening the peace of our people will not be taken lightly.”

Akdoğan noted that his country is following the developments in the region very closely, saying that the Turkish armed forces have responded to mortars launched from Syria.

Meanwhile, Akdoğan criticised the calls to take to the streets in certain cities in Turkey, calling this an “irresponsible act and underestimation of Turkey’s efforts”.

He denounced the violent attacks waged against the state’s offices, as well as the offices of the ruling Freedom and Justice Party. He said that the government would not tolerate more acts against citizens in the Turkish cities.