Many people lost their lives; many were wounded during the attacks on Afrin. Roşîn Mihemed Hesen lost her sight; her brother lost his legs and her sister-in-law lost her life. But she never gives up resisting while talking about what she faced. She wants to return and see Afrin again…

SARA ŞÊX HESEN

Aleppo- People of all ages affected by the attacks on Afrin carried out on January 20, 2018. The attacks lasted 58 days and left people with grief.  People of Afrin had to migrate to Shehba. They live in tents in the hope of returning Afrin one day. People of Afrin live in four camps named Afrîn, Veger, Serdem, and Berxwedanbuilt in Shehba. 4000 families live in Berxwedan camp, 4000 in Serdem camp, 95 in Afrin camp, and 103 families in Veger camp.

36-year-old Roşîn Mihemed Hesen is from Cûqê village of Afrin’s Mabata district. Her house was bombed and she lost her sight; her brother lost his legs and her sister-in-law lost her life in the attacks. Roşîn moved to Shêx Meqsûd neighborhood of Aleppo after the attacks. She told us her endless resistance and what she had faced.

She was a teacher in Afrin

Roşîn was a teacher in Afrin. She began to talk about those days. “Before the attacks, our lives were beautiful. I lived with my mother. When my mother passed away, I kept living with my brother. I was a teacher in Afrin and I taught children. Life in Afrin was really beautiful; people lived together by respecting each other. As teachers, we try to teach children patriotism and the beauty of free life.”

“I lost my sight in the attacks”

Roşîn talked about her worst day as follows;

“Turkish state and Turkish-backed groups attacked Afrin and I lost my sight, a part of my heart. The war days were very painful, I cannot describe it. Civilians were being killed; we couldn’t realize our days and nights. We heard our loved ones were killed. It was February, our village was under bombardment. Many artillery shells were thrown around our house and they destroyed the trees. One of the shells fell in front of our house. My brother lost his legs, his wife lost her life. And I lost my sight. I could hardly see. Two days later, I was in complete darkness and I became blind. After that day, I have been afraid of shells and warplanes.”

Her brother and sister-in-law supported her

Roşîn stated that she kept resisting for 58 days even if she lost her sight.

“When my mother passed away, I thought ‘My brother and sister-in-law will always support me’. It was a very painful war; the people resisted shoulder to shoulder for 58 days. All people saw what was happening in Afrin but they kept silent. But we will always stay here and keep supporting our cause. Unjustified killing, massacres, abductions, and torture are still ongoing. All states keep silent when the issue is Kurds.”

“Afrin is like a paradise, I want to see it again”

Roşîn Mihemed Hesen's last wish is to return to Afrin and see it again.

“Afrin was the place of security and peace. They wanted to turn peace into a grave for us. Those supporting freedom should do something for Afrin. I lost my sight in this brutal war and I am not a person, who has many opportunities. I demand help from people to see again. I have difficulties meeting my basic needs. I want to return to Afrin and see Afrin again.”