ŞÊRÎN ELÎ

Shehba – Citizens of Afrin were forcibly displaced from their city when Turkey and Turkish-backed factions took the control of the city. They, who live now in the refugee camps of the city Shehba, NE Syria, live under bad conditions in tents. Displaced people of Afrin, particularly those living in camps and destroyed houses, live under worse conditions while winter is coming. Children who live in tents made of plastic become ill due to the cold weather. We spoke to the women of Afrin living in the Berxwedan and Serdem camps.

“We try to meet the needs”

 “Now, we are making preparation for winter. We gave stone, cement, soil, and tents to the people so that those who don’t have tents can build their tents and those who have problems with their tents can fix them. We try to meet the needs of the people for winter. We are now trying to build roads for the camp. We form communes to create a free society,” said Xedice Ebdo, a worker of the Berxwedan Camp built by the municipality in the Fafine district of Shehba.

“We want to return to our homeland”

Fidan Memo, who is from the Şorbe village of Afrin’s Mabeta district, lives in the Berxwedan camp. “We were forcibly displaced from our homeland due to the Turkish attacks. We have lived in this camp for four years. We try to maintain our lives but the conditions in the camp are challenging. We face different challenges in summer and winter. It is very cold in winter. I want to underline that the municipal workers do their best to meet our needs. The municipality has formed communes to build the roads. Diseases are spreading in the camp and we don’t find any medicine. The countries should meet our needs in the camp. We want to return to our homeland,” she said.

“Civilians should be protected”

Mother of two, Roşin Xelil is from the Qentere village of Afrin’s Mabeta district and she is one of the women of Afrin, who live in the Berxwedan Camp. “We keep resisting in the camp. The winter is coming and the school is far from the camp. They get cold when they go to school. I call on the human rights organization to protect civilians.”

“Children are innocent”

Mother of five, Zozan Reşid lives in the Serdem Camp built in the Ehdas district of Shehba. “We have lived in this camp for two years. We face difficulties both in summer and winter. Children die because there is no medicine. Children are innocent.”