RAPERÎN BEKİR

Shahba- The people, who were forced to leave Afrin by Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions in 2018, keep resisting in Afrin/Shahba Canton despite all the difficult living conditions, the ongoing Turkish attacks and the siege imposed by the Syrian government. On February 15, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) decided to stop distributing drinking water to the towns and villages of Shahba, including the IDPs camps hosting thousands of displaced people of Afrin.

‘UNICEF stops distributing drinking water’

Reacting to the decision of UNICEF, Alif Muhammed, Co-chair of the Local Administration and Municipalities Authority in Afrin/Shahba canton, said, “The displaced people of Afrin have been suffering from the Turkish attacks and the siege imposed by the Damascus (Syrian) government for six years. Now, UNICEF stops distributing drinking water to the region. This decision is far from the meaning and the principles of the organization.”

‘It will lead to the spread of infectious diseases’

Pointing out that the people of Shahba suffer from the lack of drinking water, Alif Muhammed said, “We do our best to provide drinking water to the people, especially displaced people. UNICEF must reverse its decision. The civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, health centers, power and water stations in Shahba have been destroyed by Turkish attacks. Most underground water is not used for drinking water. If UNICEF does not distribute drinking water to towns, villages and IDPs camps, it will lead to the spread of infectious diseases, humanitarian crises in the canton.”

In her speech, Alif Muhammed called on humanitarian organizations to put pressure on the Syrian government to lift the siege and allow fuel and other essential supplies into the canton without restriction.

‘It is an inhuman decision’

Cihan Yûsif is a displaced woman of Afrin living in Serdem camp. She described the decision of UNICEF as “an inhuman decision”. Calling on UNICEF to reverse its decision, she said, “Since we were displaced to Shahba, we have faced many difficulties; we have faced up to the siege imposed by the Damascus government and the ongoing Turkish attacks. The decision of UNICEF will cause more suffering for us. If UNICEF does reverse its decision, infectious diseases will spread in the camp.”

Hatice Ahmed is one of the displaced women living in Berxwedan Camp. She also called on UNICEF to reverse its decision. “This decision is not appropriate for an international organization that provides aid to the displaced and those in need.”