ROBARÎN BEKIR

Shahba - About four years ago, hundreds of thousands of people had to leave Afrin due to the attacks of Turkey. The people of Afrin, who have lived in Shahba, have struggled for their lives against all the difficulties and hardships of daily life. The dream of the people of Afrin is to return to the city, where they were born in.

Many camps were built in Shahba

Şêrîn Ehmed, a member of the Social Affairs Committee of the Afrin Canton Council, told us that the Autonomous Administration has provided support to the people of Afrin who were forcibly displaced to Shehba, both in the camps and in the city. Stating that the people of Afrin used to have a peaceful life in their city but they have faced many challenges since they were forced to leave their homeland, Şêrin Ehmed said, “Shahba witnessed many clashes when the city was under the control of ISIS. The Autonomous Administration, which was established in Shahba, has used every means available for the displaced people of Afrin in Shahba. It has supported the people of Afrin by distributing free cereals, bread, and food boxes. It also opened the office of the Kurdish Red Crescent, Evrin Hospital, and health centers.”

“Destroyed houses were rebuilt”

Pointing out that the Autonomous Administration has rebuilt many houses destroyed by the bombardments, Şêrin Ehmed continued to talk as follows: “It has built the sewer system and delivered water to the villages by using mobile water tanks and water tanks. People have difficulty in providing many materials and their needs. After the embargo imposed by the Syrian regime on the canton, people are asked for money for the aid sent by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. They do their best to evacuate the people of Afrin from this region as they forcibly displaced them from Afrin. Despite all challenges, the people of Afrin resist and the Autonomous Administration supports them.”

“People of Afrin resist the occupation”

Stating that she has lost many of her friends during the war, Şêrîn Ehmed said, “Our friends were martyred here. For this reason, we will always fight and never accept to surrender. We will always resist until we return to our homeland, Afrin. We support our people, we do our best for them and the people are aware of our efforts. The people know that the Syrian regime has carried out the siege against us. Villages in Sherawa and Shahba are attacked and shelled every day by the Turkish army and its mercenaries, but the people of Afrin keep resisting their attacks.”

“Our lives turned into hell overnight”

Ferîda Bekir is from Afrin but has lived in a camp built by the Autonomous Administration in Shahba. She had to leave Afrin with her family on March 18, 2021. “Now, I live in a camp in Shahba. When we were in Afrin, we couldn’t go out due to the control of the Turkish state and Turkey-backed factions. After Turkey's invasion of Afrin, we could not sleep because of the sounds of artillery and bullets. Our lives turned into hell overnight. Afrin was a safe and peaceful city before the occupation but now it becomes the center of the armed factions. They forcibly took money from the citizens, confiscated and looted the citizens’ properties.”

“We always have hope of returning to our homeland”

Salwa Ebdo is another citizen of Afrin living in a camp in Shahba. Stating that they have faced many difficulties and disasters, especially in summer and winter, in the camp, she said, “Our tents don’t protect us from the hot weather in summer and they don’t protect us from cold weather in winter. But we keep struggling despite all difficulties and hardships because Afrin will be definitely liberated from invaders and we will return to our homeland. We always have hope of returning to our homeland.”

“Turkey should be held accountable”

 At the end of her speech, Salwa Ebdo called on all countries demanding the protection of human rights and the countries that have claimed they will resolve the Syrian crisis. “If these countries want to do something to resolve this crisis, they should act now. Turkey should be held accountable for its crimes in Afrin and it should immediately leave Afrin.”