HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba-Women and children are the worst affected by wars and conflicts. In wars and conflicts, people are forced to leave their homelands and homes. The forcibly displaced people face many problems such as heating and health problems in the camps. There are more than 100 thousand forcibly displaced people of Afrin living in Shahba, northeastern Syria. The city of Shahba has been subjected to the ongoing attacks of the Turkish state, Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Syrian regime.

People keep resisting despite the siege

The city of Shahba has been suffering from the ongoing attacks of the Turkish state and Turkey-backed factions and embargo imposed by the Syrian regime. The 4th Armored Division of the Syrian army has not allowed the supply of fuel, food and medicine to the region which causes the people of the region to face more difficulties. The people of Shahba fight the policies of sovereign states by resisting despite all obstacles. NuJINHA spoke to some displaced women of Afrin, who live in the Serdem camp (IDPs camp) located in the Ehdas town of Shahba Canton, about what challenges faced by them.

Call on the international community by Hêvîn

Hêvîn Henan, one of the forcibly displaced people of Afrin, told us that they face more challenges especially in winter. “We cannot access health care due to the ongoing embargo imposed by the Syrian government. The embargo violates our right, our children’s right to health. In addition, we cannot meet our basic needs. We endure all the difficult conditions with the hope of returning to Afrin. We had a comfortable life in Afrin. We face many difficulties especially in winter. We have to wash clothes by using freezing water and this leads to many health problems. The international community should be more sensitive about forcibly displaced people,” Hêvîn Henan said.

She endure difficulties with the hope of returning to Afrin

Another displaced woman of Afrin, Semîra Xelîl keeps resisting despite the tough living conditions in the camp. Speaking about the camp conditions, she said, “Every day, we have to struggle against difficulties and obstacles. But these difficulties never break our resistance. The camp's unpaved roads and grounds become muddy and impassable whenever it rains. We were very happy in Afrin because we did not face such difficulties there. All we want is to return to Afrin. We endure difficulties with the hope of returning to Afrin.”

‘We will go nowhere (else) except Afrin’

Speaking about the embargo imposed by the Syrian government, Fatimê Dîno said, “For about five years, we have been facing the difficulties of forced displacement but this year, we face more difficulties due to the embargo imposed by the Syrian government. The Syrian government tries to break our resistance by imposing the embargo on us. It also tries to displace us again. We will go nowhere (else) except Afrin. We are determined to return to Afrin one day. Our resistance in Shahba guarantees our return to Afrin.”