People of Tell Rifaat: We will stand firm
The Turkish attacks on Tall Rifat killed many civilians. “These attacks are crimes against humanity. The citizens will never leave their homeland,” said Berivan Huseyin, director of the Afrin Hospital.
RÛBARÎN BEKIR
Shahba- The Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked many areas of North and East Syria on Wednesday and Thursday. Tell Rifaat, a city hosting thousands of displaced people of Afrin, was one of the cities targeted by the Turkish attacks.
Civilians were randomly targeted by the Turkish state, said Berivan Huseyin, the director of the Afrin Hospital in the Shahba/Afrin Canton. “The Turkish state bombed many areas of North and East Syria, including Shahba/Afrin Canton. The attacks targeted civilian houses in Tell Rifaat. These attacks are crimes committed by the Turkish state against civilians.” In her speech Berivan Huseyin condemned the attacks and said, “We condemn the Turkish attacks targeting civilians, especially women and children. The Turkish state has carried out many genocidal attacks on Tell Rifaat since it forcibly displaced people from Afrin to Shahba in order to displace people and occupy Tell Rifaat and other regions in North and East Syria.”
A crime against humanity
The people killed and injured in the Turkish attacks on Tell Rifaat were taken to the Afrin Hospital. “An injured woman was sent to Aleppo because she had been amputated,” Berivan Huseyin told NuJINHA. “The Turkish state violates international conventions by targeting civilians. Even healthcare workers were targeted in the attacks. A health center in Qamishlo was targeted by the Turkish state; this is a crime against humanity.” Berivan Huseyin also called on international human rights organizations to take an urgent action for the end of the attacks.
‘Attacks on civilians must stop’
Ahmed Rifai Bayram, 15, was injured in the Turkish attacks on Tell Rifaat. “The Turkish state targeted our house in Tell Rifaat,” he told NuJINHA. “I was injured in the bombardment. My brother Muhammed Bayram was also injured in the back. The attacks on civilians must stop.”
‘We will stand firm against attacks’
“Seven years have passed since we were displaced from our homeland,” said Zeynep Muhammed, a displaced woman of Afrin. “We have lived in Tell Rifaat for seven years. The Turkish state attacked Tell Rifaat on Wednesday night, killing and injuring civilians. We will not leave Tell Rifaat no matter what happens. We will protect our children and stand firm against all kinds of attacks.”