North and East Syria taking measures to protect grain harvest from sabotage fires

ZALIN ܙܐܠܝܢ (QAMISHLI), Syria – The Zalin (Qamishli) Provincial Council held a meeting on Monday in the presence of the Emergency Committee consisting of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), Community Protection Forces (HPC), Environment and Municipalities Committee, and the Peasants Union. During the meeting, they discussed the precautionary measures taken before the harvest season to avoid the recurrence of last year fires.

In the summer of 2019, a series of intentionally set fires devastated the yearly grain harvest. It is suspected that cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) were responsible for setting the fires.

In an effort to prevent a similar situation from unfolding this year, 24 hours-patrols will be organized to protect agricultural crops. In addition, farmers are required to cooperate with the security forces to protect agricultural crops.

During the meeting, it was decided to preparing statistics about last year’s attacks and the number of firefighters and harvesters available. It was also decided that roads near agricultural areas should be rehabilitated and diesel fuel provided to farmers.

In related news, the Economic Committee of the Civil Administration in Tabqa, with the participation of the General Fuel Directorate, held a meeting to discuss ways to assist farmers by providing them with fuel and agricultural resources.

The DAA committee to allocating 11,000 liters of fuel for large harvesters and 80,000 liters of small harvesters, to be distributed in three phases. Several conditions had been specified for farmers who wished to receive fuel, including that all harvesters undergo field inspection by a formed committee.

Safety supplies, including fire extinguishers and water tanks, are also to be provided to farmers to assist in the fighting of fires.