Since March 18, 2018, the canton of Afrin in northern Syria has been under Turkish occupation. War crimes have been systematically committed since the invasion. A large part of the population displaced from Afrin has been living in precarious conditions in the neighboring Shehba region for four years.

On the fourth anniversary of the Turkish state's occupation of Afrin, the Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) issued statements.

The written statement by the MSD includes the following:

"After 58 days of heroic struggle by the people of Afrin, YPJ, YPG, and HPC forces, the Turkish state and its mercenaries occupied Afrin on March 18, 2018.  Because of Turkish attacks, most people in Afrin left their homes, and as a result of the occupation, the demographic structure and civilisation of Afrin were changed."

"Despite all the sacrifices and resistance, the international community remained silent. The majority of states supported the Turkish state, and the people of Afrin and Syria were deceived. With simply a few words, they criticized the invaders. This suggests that they were involved in the Afrin invasion. We urge that the Turkish state end its occupation of Afrin, and we declare that liberating this city is our major responsibility. Furthermore, we urge the UN to ensure the return of the Afrin people to their homes and to fulfil its obligations under all demographic change policies. Similarly, we call for a committee to be formed and an investigation to be started for the crimes committed by the Turkish government and its mercenaries."

The statement of the PYD General Assembly is as follows:

"For two months, YPG and YPJ forces and their people defied the brutality of terror and Turkish occupation. For the past four years, Afrin has been facing terrorism and occupation.

All international and regional powers, as well as the peoples of the region, were taken aback by the legendary resistance, which has inscribed its name in gold letters on the pages of history. After the invading Turkish army stopped its attacks, the Turkish authorities began to deploy prohibited chemical weapons in front of the international community, destroying people's villages and homes. On March 18, 2018, Afrin was captured following the unmatched resistance of the people.

Turkish fascist gangs are carrying out a campaign of kidnapping, murder, plunder, and tyranny against our people in Afrin through the Syrian opposition and their connected gangs. The Turkish state continues to construct colonial buildings with money from Ikhwan on a regular basis. It renames villages, cities, public spaces, and historical sites. They tear down the olive trees, kidnap the people, and use their mainstays in order to destroy the Kurdish civilisation and historical existence.

Everyone knows that the Afrin attack came as a result of bargaining and conspiracy between active forces in Syria and Turkey. Afrin, Syria's safest and most stable city, which shelters people from all across the country, was demolished and devastated.

We strongly condemn the Turkish regime's policies, including demographic change, kidnapping, death, theft, displacement, and Turkification.

The stance and belief of the Afrin people in Shehba represents the trust to return to Afrin and reclaim the holy lands. We praise their legendary resistance in the Shehba camps.

We will repel the Turkish invasion from our lands, and victory will be ours as long as our people's will and resistance continue on the basis of revolutionary people's war. On this basis, we urge on Syrian opposition forces and international forces to stop the Turkish occupation and hold them accountable for any atrocities perpetrated in Afrin."