HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- The Shahba Canton, an unit of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, has hosted more than 100,000 displaced people of Afrin. The canton has been under the siege of the Syrian regime, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed faction named “Syrian National Army (SNA)” for five years. While the Syrian regime has been imposing an embargo on the canton, the Turkish state and its factions have been attacking the canton. 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.

They gather firewood

Due to the embargo imposed on Shahba by the Syrian regime for more than two months, the people cannot meet their basic needs, especially in winter. The displaced women of Afrin gather firewood in order to protect their children from cold weather and to earn a living. They resist despite the embargo and ongoing Turkish attacks to return to Afrin one day.

‘We cannot find fuel’

One of the displaced women of Afrin, Zeyneb Îbo said, “We have to gather firewood to protect our children from cold weather since we cannot find fuel due to the ongoing embargo imposed by the Syrian regime. We had properties and farmland in Afrin to make a living. But now, we have to gather firewood to make a living.”

Their children get sick due to cold weather

65-year-old Cinet Dîko, another displaced woman of Afrin, told us that she gathered firewood to protect her children from cold weather. “I am an old and sick woman. I have children and they get sick due to the cold weather. We face many difficulties due to the ongoing embargo,” she said.

People have no access to medicines

Noting that they would keep resisting in Shahba, Cinet Dîko said, “We also have no access to medicines due to the embargo. Sick people need medicines. We live with the hope of returning to Afrin. We use firewood to make our home warm and to cook.”