NÛPELDA DENÎZ

Makhmour- Thousands of Kurdish people were forcibly displaced from their homeland in Northern Kurdistan in the 1990s due to the attacks of the Turkish state. After changing seven camps, they settled in the Makhmour Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) in 1998. The people of Makhmour always resist all kinds of attacks against them.

The Women’s Foundation has carried out activities to educate and empower women, youth and children. Since it was established in 2002, the foundation has created employment opportunities for women. Having a school and a health center in the camp, the foundation also holds workshops for women. Despite the siege imposed on the camp by the KDP and the Turkish attacks, the foundation keeps working and creating employment opportunities for women.

NuJINHA spoke to Zeynep Efe, head of the foundation, about the aim and projects of the foundation.

“The foundation was established in 2002 to raise awareness and educate women, youth and children,” Zeynep Efe told NuJINHA. “The foundation has opened five kindergartens for children aged 5-6. We have also opened a handicraft center for women. At the center, women attend training courses and achieve their own economic independence. Last year, 170 women successfully completed the courses and received their certificates. We have also held a photography workshop for young women.”

‘The attacks affect children’

Zeynep Efe mentioned the attacks of the Turkish state and the KDP on the camp and said, “Since 2017, the Turkish state has attacked the camp with the support of the KDP. These attacks affect children. Children do not feel safe and do not want to go to school.”

‘Many projects remain incomplete’

Zeynep Efe stated that they faced political obstacles and difficult conditions in the region after ISIS attacked Makhmour in 2014. “Before ISIS attacks in 2014, many people from inside and outside Kurdistan provided support to our foundation. However, the attacks of ISIS in 2014 and the oppression of the KDP in 2019 caused us to face further obstacles. Many of our projects remain incomplete due to the oppression of the KDP. For instance, we have a project aiming to open schools for women; however, we have not put this project into practice yet.”

‘The UN does not fulfill its responsibility’

Zeynep Efe criticized the UN and international aid organizations for not fulfilling their responsibility. “Although the camp is officially registered and supervised by the United Nations, the UN does not send sufficient aid to the region,” Zeynep Efe said, calling on women, especially young women, to play an active role in all facets of life. “They should educate and improve themselves. They should make great efforts to stand on their own legs.”