Afrin people: Nobody helped us but the Autonomous Administration

“The whole world should know that we will not stop our resistance until Afrin is safe from the invading Turkish army and their gangs. The only reason we live in half-ruined houses in this cold is to resist and go back to Afrin.”

Hundreds of people who left Afrin and settled in Shehba spent the summer in camps, half-demolished houses and in complete lack of resources. The people of Afrin have seen any help from any entity other than the Autonomous Administration in these winter days. The Autonomous Administration has supplied the people of Afrin with stoves and fuel despite their limited resources.

The people of Afrin, who had to leave home due to the genocidal attacks by the Turkish state, stated that they have received no material or moral support from any party or institution other than the Afrin Region Democratic Autonomous Administration.

The Autonomous Administration has supplied the people of Afrin with stoves and fuel with the onset of winter.

Afrin Canton Assembly Member Xatûn Ehmed spoke to ANHA and said they have had to take on this responsibility as the people from Afrin who settled in villages and camps in Shehba received no help from any institution.

Ehmed continued: “In addition to our administrative efforts, we supplied fundamental aid for the people of Afrin as per their needs. We supplied them with stoves and fuel, and distributed aid considering the requirements of each family.” Ehmed added that they acquired fuel against all odds due to the blockade the region is under, but they have yet to acquire supplies like winter clothing and carpets.

A woman named Medîne Mihemed who lives in the Ehdas village said the following on her experience:

“The whole world should know that we will not stop our resistance until Afrin is safe from the invading Turkish army and their gangs. The only reason we live in half-ruined houses in this cold is to resist and go back to Afrin.”

Hêvîn Bîrîm pointed out that in the 8 months they have been out of Afrin, no aid organization has brought anything to them: “We continue our resistance in the Shehba Canton with the spirit of the Resistance of the Age. Since we settled here, nobody but the Autonomous Administration has helped us. The Autonomous Administration built camps for us, repaired houses, supplied daily necessities and distributed fuel and stoves for the winter.”