With the onset of the Turkish state's war of aggression against the northern Syrian canton of Afrin on 20 January, the population of Afrin has resolutely resisted the genocidal attacks by occupation troops and their recruited jihadist militias for two months. To prevent further massacres of the civilian population, the Cantonal Administration and the People's Defense Units (YPG) decided on 18 March to evacuate the inhabitants of Afrin. After 58 days of resistance, thousands of people left behind their homes and gardens to settle in the canton of Shehba.

With limited resources, countless displaced people are trying to survive in the refugee camps established by the cantonal governments. There is hardly any sign of mourning in their attitude, on the contrary: they hold fast to the resistance.

"People’s Garden" for the displaced people from Afrin

The "People's Garden" in Shehba is a joint project of the cantons of Shehba and Afrin and is located on an area of ​​approximately 60 hectares in the village of Hirbil. The fruit and vegetables harvested daily by the women of Afrin are distributed to the families in need in the camps.

The women who have been reaping the fruits of their labor for two months are very satisfied with their commitment to the population. The People’s Garden, where persons of all ages work, is filled with the diligence of women. After harvesting the melons, tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and zucchini, the women will grow more seasonal fruits and vegetables.

All feelings flow into each other

During their work in the People's Garden, women express their feelings from time to time with a melodic song or even with a lamentation. In this land, where all the different colors of sorrow and joy are present, the feeling of resistance is most felt.

The fragrance of Afrin

Zehra Henan is one of the women working in the People's Garden. The 67-year-old woman who escaped from the Jindires district was evacuated like many others on the last day of resistance. Henan complains that she did not have the chance to settle the many neighbors who were killed during the Turkish army's airstrikes. The massacre that the people of Afrin had to experience cannot be put into words. "At every opportunity, I go to the garden. Here I come to rest, because I feel the scent of Afrin. Even if we are to spend years here, we will eventually return to Afrin, "she says.

"Our resistance is the answer to the experience"

27-year-old Aufa Ahmet Cesim lived in the highly competitive Ashrafiyah neighborhoof before coming to Shehba. She tells, "When we lived in Afrin, every place around us was filled with gardens. No matter where we looked, we saw and felt nature. In contrast to what we have experienced, instead of mourning we have chosen the resistance that we will firmly enclose and continue everywhere. Our living conditions here are difficult. While a whole folk is going through a very hard time here, others are holding on to their silence. Apart from the self-government, the cantonal council and the local organizations, we receive no support. However, we know that no matter what the circumstances, we are self-sufficient. It is precisely for this reason that our response to what we have experienced is not grief, but resistance and love."

Strengthen the resistance hand in hand

"We women here go hand in hand and strengthen our resistance. We call all the other women to solidarity and invite them to resistance."