ZEYNEB ÎSA

Dêrik (Al-Malikiyah)- On January 20, 2018, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions launched an offensive on the Afrin Canton of North and East Syria, committing many war crimes, including kidnapping, killing, harassment, rape, looting, arrest and torture, cutting down olive trees and displacing thousands. Some displaced people of Afrin settled in Shahba and resisted all difficult living conditions in camps; however, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked Shahba, displaced the people of Afrin for the second time.

‘We have been displaced twice’

“We had a peaceful life in Afrin,” said Fatmê Salih, a displaced woman of Afrin settling in the Newroz Camp located in the city of Dêrik. “However, the occupying Turkish state attacked us on January 20, 2018 by using heavy weapons. We were displaced from Afrin to Shahba by Turkish attacks. After seven years in Shahba, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked us again, displacing us again.”

‘Children froze to death’

When the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked Shahba, many people had to leave Shahba to Jazira Canton of North and East Syria. “Many people were killed, attacked or kidnapped by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions while trying to reach Jazira Canton,” Fatmê Salih told NuJINHA. “Children froze to death on the way. Thanks to the Autonomous Administration (of North and East Syria), we arrived in the Newroz Camp. They gave us tents, food and water. In Afrin, we had a house and olive trees; our children were going to school. In camps, we suffer from cold weather in winter and hot weather in summer and diseases.”

‘Hold the Turkish state accountable’

Fatmê Salih wants to return to Afrin. “The Turkish state always attacks us and occupies our cities. The people staying in Afrin have been subjected to violations by the Turkish state. As the displaced people of Afrin, we want to return to our city. I call on human rights organizations to hold the Turkish state accountable for its crimes. We will resist until we return to Afrin, our homeland.”

‘The Turkish state did not allow us to live our childhood’

“We had a happy and peaceful life in Afrin until the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked us,” said Fereh Abdullah. “We were going to school, having a normal life. The attacks of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions displaced us from Afrin to Shahba. We lived in Shahba for seven years, resisting the Turkish attacks and the siege imposed by the Syrian government. However, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions attacked us in Shahba, displacing us to the Jazira Canton. The Turkish state did not allow us to live our childhood. All we want is to return to Afrin.”