Kurds in Connecticut are concerned for loved ones in northern Syria following a military attack by Turkey.
The invasion began Wednesday – three days after President Donald Trump abruptly announced he’d withdraw U.S. troops from the area.
“Everything that’s happening is just against humanity,” said Azad Hamoto, who was born in Syria and is Kurdish.
Hamoto has family in Syria living through the Turkish invasion.
“I just called my aunt this morning who fled last year from Afrin actually – she’s living in Qamishli right now,” Hamoto said. “She doesn’t know what to do or where to go.”
Hamoto was invited to Hartford to speak to reporters by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) who said that “chances are slim” that Trump would reverse his decision to withdraw the troops.
“At the very least, he could work to come to an understanding with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan as to where this offensive will take place, how long it will last, and to assure that the rules of conduct in conflict are followed,” Murphy said.
Turkey has been planning to attack the Kurds for a long time. They have been fighting forever. We have no soldiers or Military anywhere near the attack area. I am trying to end the ENDLESS WARS. Talking to both sides. Some want us to send tens of thousands of soldiers to....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2019
Murphy said it’s up to Congress now to ramp up humanitarian aid to the region.
The president has said he decided to withdraw troops in an effort to end the "endless wars" in the Middle East.
The wars hit a bit closer to home for Kurds like Hamoto.
“It’s the story of our life," he said. "Many hundreds and thousands of people are misplaced, dying.”
