One of the camps where the people of Afrin resettled after being forced to flee their city when it was occupied by the Turkish state, has been named Veger (Return).

In the camp, in the region of Shehba, people insist on returning to their homes and lands. When the camp was first set up, around 100 people, or 21 families settled in. As soon as the families settled in, they organized themselves and established their assemblies.

Feysel Hesen Hebes remembered the Turkish state’s genocidal attacks against Afrin almost a year ago. He said the attacks took place under the silence of the international community, and recalled how that they had to leave their lands because of these attacks. Hebes also said how people are continuing their resistance in Shehba.

A woman named Heyat Hebeş drew attention to the difficulties in the camps and their determination to return to their lands. “Nothing is as valuable as someone’s homeland. For the freedom of Afrin, we will resist the cold in the winter months, as we have resisted the heat during the summer.”

Another resident of the camp, Mewlude Eli, said that they would continue to resist until they return to Afrin, and that nothing could weaken their resistance.

The Veger camp manager, Hesen Mistefa, told ANHA: “Despite the limited facilities, in the past year we have continued to build camps for citizens by restoring houses in ruins, and what was left of shops and mosques. Thus we set up the Veger Camp under the Democratic Autonomous Administration. So far, the number of families living in the camp has reached 21.”