Turkmens flock to Turkish border amid Syria-Russia bombardment

As the Russian bombardment to defend Bashar-al Assad's forces heats up in the Turkmen-dominated Bay?rbucak region in northwest Syria, waves of locals have flooded to safe zones close to the Turkish border. 

With Russian and Syrian air strikes in the region intensifying over the past two weeks, people who have already left their houses are currently struggling against the cold weather in forested areas. 

"As of today, some 1,500 Turkmen brothers and sisters have come to our border," said Ercan Topaca, the governor of the Hatay province, on the Turkish side of the border. 

"We have taken measures to meet their demands, such as tents, rapidly, blankets and food," Topaca said. 
Some 575 tents, 4,200 blankets, medical equipment, 20,000 cans of food and 2,000 food kits were sent to the other side of the border on Nov. 21, he added. 

Turkey says it has taken in a total of 2.2 million refugees from Syria's four-year civil war and still maintains an "open door policy," while warning that its capacity to take more is limited.

Topaca said the authorities are now preparing for a possible new wave of migration from the affected area, which includes 15 mainly Turkmen villages and a total population of up to 35,000 people, including ethnic Arabs.

"Rocket were pouring on us," said Halil Ebu Ömer, who managed to reach a safe spot. "It was impossible to stay there." 

The Turkish Health Ministry has founded a hospital at a site across from the Syrian village of Yamad? to treat wounded people from the other side of the border. Turkish aid groups have also launched campaigns for Turkmens. 

The clashes between the Turkmen military units and the regime forces were continuing at other spots such as Burj El Keseb and...