Video: Turks, Kurds express their fears as IS advances on Kobane

#SyriaWar

Locals accuse Turkey and the US-led coalition of inactivity over the crisis in Kobane

Kobane lies on the Syria-Turkey border and is considered of strategic importance (Giulia Bertoluzzi/MEE)

Giulia Bertoluzzi and Costanza Spocci

Monday 6 October 2014 16:41 BST

Last update:

Tuesday 7 October 2014 7:15 BST

Topics:

SyriaWar

Tags:

Syria, Turkey, Kobane, IS, ISIS, PKK, ISIL, Islamic State

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As militants from the Islamic State advance on the strategic border city of Kobane, Kurdish and Turkish residents on both sides of the border fear the consequences of the city falling to the group.

At least a quarter of Kobane and 396 surrounding villages, which are thought to have a population of around 400,000 mostly Kurds, are now "completely empty", Barzan Iso, a Syrian journalist currently in Kobane told MEE on Monday.

Though the Kurdish PKK and YPG have fought hard to retain control of the area, residents have complained of a lack of support from either the Turkish government - who many accuse of being in league with IS - or the US-led coalition.