Kurdish child severely burned by suspected Turkish use of white phosphorus now in a stable condition

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A child who suffered severe burns from the suspected illegal use of incendiary weapons by Turkey during its bomardment of northeast Syria is now in a stable condition thanks to treatment he is receiving in France, his father told Rudaw on Saturday.

Mohammed Hamid, 13, was left with burns to 70 percent of his body following an attack on the town of Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) on October 18, amid fierce fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed Syrian militias. 

Hamid was taken to the Kurdistan Region on October 22, then flown to France for treatment the next day.

"He is still receiving treatment," his father told Rudaw. "From what we have been told by the physicians, the danger to his life has decreased by 70 percent."

"We do not know how long are we going to stay in France. It is decision vested in the French government," he said, adding that his family would prefer him to stay in France "because he still needs to be attended to."

Mohammed's uncle agreed it would be best for him to remain in France.

"My nephew needs to seek asylum to stay for a longer time," Musa Kino said. "For safety reasons, we would prefer for Mohammed and his father to stay in France. We hope the relevant authorities will help in this regard."

Local medical officials have accused Turkey of using unconventional and banned weapons in the battle - allegations Turkey has denied. Dozens of civilians, including several children, have been left severely injured following the reported use of the incendiary chemical in Turkey’s offensive in northern Syria, which began on October 9. 

The UN Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) launched an investigation into the suspected chemical attack on Kurdish civilians, although many have speculated that Turkey is to blame. 

The use of white phosphorus, commonly used to create smokescreens, is permitted under several treaties. However, its use on civilians is banned by the Geneva Protocol and the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

On October 6, following a phone call with the Turkish President, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would not prevent a long-planned Turkish operation into Kurdish-controlled territories into northeast Syria.

Turkey's "Operation Peace Spring" offensive was formally launched on October 9, with the stated aim of clearing the border of Kurdish forces and resettling approximately 3 million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey in the area. Kurds have said this amounts to forced demographic change.

Scores of civilians have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as a result of the operation.