FÎDAN ABDULLAH

Shahba- The Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked Afrin on January 20, 2018. Despite all kinds of methods and chemical weapons, the people of the city exhibited an unprecedented resistance that lasted for 58 days. After 58-day resistance by the people, the Turkish state occupied Afrin on March 18, 2018. Many people of Afrin had to leave their homes due to inhuman practices of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions in the city. Most of the displaced people of Afrin settled in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, where mostly Kurds live. However, the Syrian government has imposed a siege on the region for months. The people are prevented from accessing medical supplies and this causes more people to suffer from diseases.

 

Commenting on the ongoing siege that affects the life and health of displaced people, Aliya Mihemed, Co-chair of Afrin-Shehba Health Organization, said that hundreds of thousands of displaced people of Afrin suffer from harsh winter conditions as well as the siege.

Pointing out that the Damascus government has increased the dosage of the siege for more than three months, Aliya Mihemed said that the Damascus government controls the entry of essential supplies, such as fuel, flour and humanitarian aid to the Shahba Canton.

Speaking about the effects of the siege on civilians, Aliya Mihemed said, “The siege makes the lives of civilians more difficult. All services and machineries such as the electric generator have been halted due to the siege and embargo. In addition, doctors and health workers face difficulties in entering the region to provide health services to the civilians.”

Diseases spread

Emphasizing that the people of Shahba live under very bad conditions, Aliya Mihemed continued her speech as follows: “The siege imposed on the region by the Damascus government affects not only the economy of the region but also health services. The entrance and exit of Aleppo have been prevented. Doctors are not allowed to enter Aleppo. The entry of medicine and other essential supplies are prevented. The siege causes the spread of diseases among the displaced people of Afrin, who live in IDPs camps. More children and old people suffer from seasonal diseases in the camps. Children suffer from malaria and influenza. Due to the lack of fuel, people face difficulties in keeping them warm and this causes the spread of diseases.”

Chronic diseases

Displaced people also suffer from chronic diseases. Underlining that the people suffering from chronic diseases should use medicine continuously, Aliya Mihemed said, “The people suffering from chronic diseases need medicine and go to the doctor. Due to the lack of medicine and doctors, many children died in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo.” Aliya Mihemed called on the humanitarian, health and legal organizations to “put pressure on the Syrian government to lift the siege. The Syrian government imposes the siege to impose its policies on civilians.”