6th winter of displaced people of Afrin in Shahba
Displaced women of Afrin living in the Berxwedan camp located in the Favin district of Shahba canton, worry that the upcoming winter months are going to be difficult for them in the camp.
HESNA MIHEMED
Shahba- After the Turkish occupation of Afrin, thousands of people had to leave their houses. Some of the displaced people of Afrin have been living in the Berxwedan camp located in the Favin district of Shahba canton. The displaced women living in the camp told NuJINHA that living conditions in the camp would be more difficult for them in the winter. In the camp, the displaced people of Afrin also suffer from the siege imposed on Shahba canton by the Syrian government.
The municipality provides support
Lîlav Şêxo, Co-mayor of the Berxwedan Camp Municipality, told NuJINHA that they do their best to lessen the burden on the displaced people. “Despite the obstacles of the Damascus Government (Syrian government), we distributed tents, nylon layers and cement to the people so that they could make preparations for winter. We asked them to renew their tents to protect them from rain or cold winter. Despite the siege, we will keep working to meet the needs of the people.”
‘We cannot meet our needs due to the siege’
Lîna Qasem is one of the displaced women of Afrin who have lived in the camp for about six years. Speaking about the living conditions in the camp, she said, “Although tents and nylon layers cannot protect us from rain and cold winter, we keep resisting. Winter has already arrived but we do not have fuel. We have difficulties in accessing healthcare services. The attacks of the Turkish state continue and we cannot meet our needs due to the siege. Due to the lack of fuel, we suffer from electricity shortage.”
‘We resist despite the siege’
Emîna Xilo keeps resisting the difficult living conditions in the camp so that they will return to Afrin. “No one can endure the difficult living conditions that we experience. We have no fuel to meet our needs. The people living in Shahba face many obstacles but we resist them,” said Emîna Xilo. She also talked about the living conditions in Afrin before it was occupied by the Turkish state. “We had no problem. One day, we will return to Afrin and have that comfortable life again.”