Bethan McKernanVerified account

@mck_beth

Turkey and the wider Middle East for . Ex , . bethan.mckernan@theguardian.com Secure mail: bethan.mckernan@protonmail.com 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Istanbul
Joined April 2011
421 Photos and videos Photos and videos

You may also like

·

Worldwide trends

Tweets

You blocked @mck_beth

Are you sure you want to view these Tweets? Viewing Tweets won't unblock @mck_beth

  1. Pinned Tweet
    17 Sep 2018

    Today is my first day at the Guardian: I’m in Beirut at the moment and moving to Istanbul soon. Talk to me about Turkey, Syria and Yemen in particular on bethan.mckernan@theguardian.com

    31 replies 33 retweets 368 likes
    Undo
  2. 26 minutes ago

    Some of the kids have no shoes or coats and their hands and feet are blue in the freezing desert. They barely cry.

    1 reply 2 retweets 4 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  3. 27 minutes ago

    I’ve met many displaced people and refugees and I’ve never seen misery like this. Civilians are always at least relieved to have escaped Isis alive; these people, even the children here know their futures are bleak.

    1 reply 3 retweets 6 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  4. 35 minutes ago

    Several Isis fighters left Baghuz today. At least three of this group were no more than 14 years old. They were weak with hunger and fell upon the bread provided by the SDF.

    2 replies 13 retweets 14 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  5. 49 minutes ago

    While the women in Hawl are fighting with each other and it’s very possible Begum has been threatened (westerners being ganged up on by Russian speakers and Tunisians apparently) it isn’t the case special arrangements have been made for her.

    1 reply 1 retweet 3 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  6. 52 minutes ago

    NB I’ve seen reporting today that says Shamima Begum has been taken from Hawl to camp Roj as a result of threats made to her by other women. Hawl mgmt told us *all* foreign nationals have been moved to Roj in last few days.

    Our write up from Hawl camp. Isis women are not sympathetic characters - but thousands of them, and their children, are now at the centre of a preventable humanitarian crisis. …
    2 replies 2 retweets 4 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  7. 57 minutes ago

    Our write up from Hawl camp. Isis women are not sympathetic characters - but thousands of them, and their children, are now at the centre of a preventable humanitarian crisis.

    1 reply 20 retweets 14 likes
    Undo
  8. 59 minutes ago

    Our write up from Hawl. Isis women are not sympathetic characters - but thousands of them, and their children, are now at the centre of a foreseeable humanitarian crisis.

    2 retweets 2 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  9. 11 hours ago

    Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant hapus/Happy Saint David’s Day. No daffodils but here’s some spring desert flowers

    1 reply 2 retweets 11 likes
    Undo
  10. Feb 28

    The camp’s population has now swollen to 52,000 and is still growing as families leave Baghuz. IRC is now worried about an outbreak of dysentery.

    3 replies 25 retweets 32 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  11. Feb 28

    Chaos at Hawl camp yesterday which is struggling to deal with biggest influx of Isis families yet. 6,000 people have arrived in last few days and transit area is overwhelmed - sick children slept outside in the rain and cold last night. 80 people, mostly babies, have died.

    10 replies 146 retweets 128 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  12. Feb 27

    Really touched by the reaction to this story and offers of help/books/supplies for Jinwar. If you’d like to get involved send me a DM with your WhatsApp number and I’ll connect you.

    I was told about plans to build a women’s village by a unit of Yazidi women during the battle for Raqqa. It was wonderful to see the finished project:
    5 retweets 21 likes
    Undo
  13. Feb 25

    I was told about plans to build a women’s village by a unit of Yazidi women during the battle for Raqqa. It was wonderful to see the finished project:

    6 replies 139 retweets 241 likes
    Undo
  14. Feb 23

    I can't find anywhere in Syria showing Wales vs England in the Six Nations tonight but obviously CYMRU AM BYTH 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

    6 replies 1 retweet 38 likes
    Undo
  15. Retweeted
    Feb 22

    HRW analysis of satellite imagery of ISIS-held Baghouz between Jan 26 and Feb 9 appears to show ongoing mass burials on an empty plot of land next to the main road. Escaped civilians told us that bodies were piling up in the streets by the end.

    2 replies 44 retweets 35 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  16. Feb 21

    Tanak oil field - Isis money maker turned SDF military base

    5 retweets 24 likes
    Undo
  17. Feb 20

    The alternative is a siege situation where the last fighters are starved out. It’s unclear who remains in Bargouz - UK believes journalist John Cantlie is still there as a bargaining chip. Number of women and children who remain willingly or as human shields also no known.

    1 reply 8 retweets 9 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  18. Feb 20

    It’s possible a surrender deal can still be struck — Isis is low on food and ammo, although there’s a core of ideologues who are still willing to fight to the death

    2 replies 4 retweets 7 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  19. Feb 20

    The Guardian understands US UK and French special forces are planning a rescue operation for hostages once the town is emptied. Even more civilians left overnight.

    Today’s story from Syria’s eastern desert. Isis fighters tried to sneak out of Baghuz in an evacuation convoy for women and children; some were clearly injured. Low on food and ammunition they are finally starting to weaken.
    5 replies 41 retweets 34 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
    Undo
  20. Retweeted
    Feb 20

    Good summary of what’s been going on the last few days in Baghuz, from

    1 reply 31 retweets 45 likes
    Undo
  21. Feb 20

    Today’s story from Syria’s eastern desert. Isis fighters tried to sneak out of Baghuz in an evacuation convoy for women and children; some were clearly injured. Low on food and ammunition they are finally starting to weaken.

    19 retweets 27 likes
    Undo

@mck_beth hasn't Tweeted yet.

Loading seems to be taking a while.

Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.