ŞÊRÎN MIHEMED

Qamishlo- Newroz camp, a formal internally displaced person (IDP) camp located in the countryside of Derik, hosts thousands of people, forcibly displaced from Afrin and Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn). Despite the difficult living conditions in the camp, women resist to return to their homeland.

Adoul Hassan, a displaced woman from Afrin, lost her husband in Afrin 10 years ago. “I started living with my father after my husband died. I have lived alone since my father died. Now, I endure all the difficult living conditions in the camp alone.”

Their living conditions deteriorating every day

 Adoul Hassan dreams of returning to Afrin one day. “Due to the ongoing Turkish attacks, we face many problems such as power and water shortages. We cannot even meet our basic needs,” said Adoul Hassan. “The Turkish attacks have destroyed civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, health centers, power and water stations, in the region. The ongoing Turkish attacks have exacerbated our suffering. The living conditions in the camp have been deteriorating every day due to the Turkish attacks and the lack of support by the international humanitarian organizations.”

‘One day we will return’

Adoul Hassan told us that they had a happy life in Afrin before their city was occupied by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions. “Our life in Afin was good and we could easily meet our daily needs. We used to earn a living from olives, fruits and vegetables. However, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions cut down our olive trees, plundered houses, agricultural lands and animals. One day we will return to Afrin and we will resist until we return to our homeland.”

 ‘We will keep resisting’

“Living conditions in the camp are very difficult. It is hot in summer and cold in winter,” said Hadla Mustafa, a displaced woman from Serêkanîyê. “Despite all the difficult living conditions, we keep resisting so that we will return to our homeland. We all hope to return.”

‘Everyone dreams of returning’

Speaking about their lives in the camp, she said, “We have built a new life in the camp. We improve ourselves thanks to the communes in the camp. We will liberate our homeland and rebuild our lives there. Although each displaced person has a different story, everyone dreams of returning to Serêkanîyê and Afrin.”

In her speech, Hadla Mustafa also called on the international community not to “remain silent against the crimes committed by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions in the occupied areas. The international community should break its silence.”