HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- The Syrian government has imposed a siege on Shahba for a long time. Due to the siege, civilians, including internally displaced people of Afrin have faced severe shortages of fuel and aid. The Syrian government controls the entry of essential supplies, such as fuel, flour and humanitarian aid to the region. Due to the lack of fuel, the people in the region have had no electricity for a week. In addition, Avrîn Hospital in the region has stopped taking new patients due to the shortages of medicine and fuel. NuJINHA spoke to women of Afrin, who have lived in Shahba since the Turkish occupation in Afrin, and women of Shahba.

‘We live in darkness’

Fatimê Îbîş, one of the displaced women of Afrin, wants to return to her homeland. “We have been living in Shahba for six years. We endure all the difficult living conditions because we want to return to our homeland. This year, the Syrian government has intensified its siege on the region. We have had no electricity for a week; we live in darkness. If fuel is run out, the bakeries will be closed and water will be cut off. The hospital has stopped taking new patients due to the lack of fuel. We demand the siege be lifted. We will keep resisting. The Syrian government should know very well that they cannot break our strong will.”

‘We will not leave our homeland to the enemy’

Hayfa Elo, one of the women of Shahba, told us that they cannot buy even their basic needs due to high prices of products. “We live in Shahba with the displaced people of Afrin. We cannot buy even our basic needs due to high prices of products. We do not know what we can do when our children get sick because there is no medication. We live in darkness because we have had no electricity for a week. We burn household items and plastic to keep our children warm. Despite everything, we will not leave our homeland to the enemy.”