HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- The Turkish state has been intensifying its attacks on North and East Syria since November 19. One of the cities targeted by the Turkish attacks is the city of Shahba, which has hosted thousands of the people of Afrin, who were forcibly displaced from Afrin after the Turkish state occupied the city on March 18, 2018. In addition to the ongoing Turkish attacks, the city also suffers from the embargo imposed by the Syrian regime. Due to the embargo, the people living in Shahba cannot meet even their basic needs.

72 schools have been closed

Due to the embargo, 72 schools have been closed in the city for 15 days due to cold weather and more than 15,000 students in Shahba and Afrin’s Şêrewa town have been deprived of their right to education. The displaced people of Afrin say they will not leave Shahba despite the ongoing Turkish attacks and the embargo imposed by the Syrian regime on the region. NuJINHA spoke to some displaced women of Afrin and spokesperson of the Afrin Region Education Organization about the difficulties faced by them.

‘We are determined to return to Afrin’

One of the displaced women of Afrin, Efiyet Ekaş pointed to the conditions in Shahba and said, “We suffer both the ongoing Turkish attacks and the embargo imposed by the Syrian regime. A siege has been imposed on Shahba. But we keep resisting both of them. The Syrian government cuts off gas to our region and does not allow any goods to be delivered. Many citizens suffer from the cut of fuel. In addition, many children are deprived of their right to education. We do not have electricity and water due to the lack of fuel. The international community remains silent despite knowing what has been going on here. We are determined to return to Afrin even if we die of poverty in Shahba.”

‘We do not leave Shahba’

Speaking about the difficulties faced by them in Shahba, Fatimê Osman said, “We were forcibly displaced from Afrin. We have been struggling despite the difficulties of being displaced. And now, the Syrian government imposes an embargo on us. Our children get sick due to cold weather. There is no medicine. There were many trees in Afrin and we used to find wood to burn in winter. However, there are not enough trees in Shahba. For this reason, we need fuel to warm in winter. However, the Syrian government prevents fuel from reaching us. Even though we face difficulties in Shahba, we will not leave it. Because staying in Shahba is the key for us to return to Afrin.”

Schools have been closed for 15 days.

Hena Kelo, spokesperson of the Afrin Region Education Organization, spoke about the education system and the effects of the embargo on education. “We built a new education system for students this year because we faced many difficulties in the system last year. Now, we have a good education system; however, we suffer from the ongoing embargo this year. We decided to close the schools due to the lack of fuel to warm the schools. The schools have been closed for 15 days. Thousands of students have been deprived of their right to education for 15 days. The schools will remain closed until we get fuel. We will do our best to provide opportunities for students and respond to the enemy.”