Women of Afrin: “Turkey jeopardizes our lives and safety”

Women living in the Aqiba village of Afrin Canton’s Sêrawa town say that Turkey jeopardizes their lives and safety by shelling their village.

ROBARÎN BEKIR

Shahba- The people are affected by the attacks carried out by Turkey in most parts of NE Syria. Turkey continues to attack many regions, particularly the areas where displaced people of Afrin live, Shahba Region and Şêrawa’s villages.

On May 25, the Turkish state targeted the villages of Afrin’s Sêrawa by firing more than 200 mortars. As a result of shelling, the people living in the village of Aqibe suffered great damage and their agricultural machinery was burned. In addition, a house was targeted by a drone in Til Rifat town. The Turkish shelling destroys the houses, properties and agricultural lands and jeopardizes the lives and safety of the people living in the region.

NuJINHA spoke to women living in the Aqiba village of Afrin’s Sêrawa town about the ongoing Turkish attacks. 

“Our agricultural machinery was burned”

Fahima Şex İsa is one of the women living in the village. Underlining that their village is always targeted by Turkey, she said, “At night, the Turkish state and its mercenaries shelled our village and its surrounding where civilians live. Our agricultural machinery, our only source of income, was burned and the windows and doors of our house were broken in the shelling.”

 “Children are scared of shelling”

Stating that children are scared of shelling, Fahima Şex İsa said, “The shelling lasted for hours. Children began to scream in fear. Within a few hours, 100 bullets hit our house. All we want is peace to return to our homeland.”

 “I cannot protect myself from shelling”

Zeyneb Xelil, another villager, reacted to the Turkish attacks on their village and said that the Turkish state has targeted civilians in its attacks. “How long will these attacks continue? I am an old woman and cannot escape during the shelling. I cannot protect myself from shelling. These attacks jeopardize our lives. But the occupying Turkish state will not break our will by attacking us.”

 “My house collapsed”

Another villager Roşin Qasim told us that their house was destroyed in the shelling. “At night, the Turkish state fired hundreds of mortars and we could not leave our house due to the intensified firing. My house collapsed due to the shelling.”

 “The international community should take a stance against Turkey”

 “The international community should take a stance against Turkey,” Roşin Qasim said, adding, “These attacks are not the first or last Turkish attacks. The Turkish state has targeted civilians in its attacks. Everyone should see the reality and speak out against the Turkish attacks. Our demands are the liberation of Afrin, the end of the occupation in Afrin and the return of the displaced people of Afrin.”