Gaziantep, Turkey Hundreds of Syrian activists in a "Freedom Convoy" left yesterday from the Turkish province of Gaziantep for the border with Syria to mark the one-year anniversary of the anti-regime revolt.
"Our goal is to put pressure in our way on the Syrian government to stop its massacres and its embargo on its own people," Moayad Skaif, one of the organisers told AFP.
The convoy of three buses and 30 cars decorated with flags and loudspeakers met late yesterday morning near the Gaziantep Airport before setting out on the road to the Turkish province of Kilis, 60 kilometres away from the Syrian border.
Skaif said the idea of "Freedom Convoy" was born earlier this year on the internet, out of the willingness of young Syrians in the diaspora to "do something for the people of Syria".
It is the second time the activists have gathered in Turkey to head to the border, hoping that they can deliver humanitarian aid across to the Syrians.
Their previous attempt on January 12 was blocked by Turkish police, who stopped their five buses and 15 cars as they approached the border, saying Syrian authorities would not let them pass through.
Aware of the likelihood of a similar scenario, the activists this time plan to hand out the donations and equipment they funded individually to Syrians on the Turkish side of the border.
"If, as was the case in January, Turkish police will not let us near the Syrian border, we offer these gifts to Syrian refugees hosted in camps in Turkey," said Skaif, who came from Doha.
The aid packed in three small trucks includes tents, sleeping bags, toiletries, food and beverages.
