Hatay, already home to 500,000 refugees, will support new camps but only on Syrian side of border.
ADVERTISEMENTMustafa Bag of euronews' Turkish service spoke to a local politician on the frontline of any escalation in the Syrian refugee crisis.
"Welcome to Euronews Mr mayor. How’s the situation in Hatay border province since the Olive Branch operation started?"
Lutfu Savas is the Mayor of Hatay:
"The people of Hatay have been living in this atmosphere for six and a half years, so they are used to living in this high tension situation," he says resignedly.
euronews:
"There are reports that some western fighters are coming to the region to join the YPG. Are there signs of this in Hatay? "
Lutfu Savas:
"There is nothing like that here. We also hear it from the media, but we haven’t seen it ourselves."
euronews:
"The Turkish press reported that Syrian refugees were voluntarily applying to join the operation, alongside the Free Syrian Army. Did you receive any request?
Lutfu Savas:
"No, no such demand has come to us directly, but yes there is a lot of excitement among the people, especially those who came here from Syria and have lived here for years."
euronews:
"Do you expect a new influx of migrants either from Afrin or Idlib or any from other parts of Syria`? Are you prepared for this?"
Lutfu Savas:
"For the moment in Hatay we shelter around 500,000 Syrian guests. But if we get a new wave of immigrants then both the Turkish State and NGO’s such as the Turkish Red Crescent will take care of them, but on the Syrian side of the border, in a safe zone. The government already made preparations in coordination with the NGOs to ensure that Syrian migrants can live there."