Despite the UN Security Council's resolution for a ceasefire in Syria, the Turkish state continues its attacks against Afrin Canton of Northern Syria. More and more people are coming to Afrin as they had to leave villages and districts fleeing the jihadists and the Turkish army.

Turkey is trying to justify its attacks on the densely populated city center of Afrin by arguing that YPG are preventing the people from leaving the city. But the opposite is the case. The municipalities in Afrin try to provide those seeking protection from the villages and districts with the resources available. Most of the flats in the city house more than two families. Due to the massive increase in population, empty buildings are being used and tent cities are being built. The ANF team talked to some people on Afrin’s streets.

“DESPITE ALL THE DIFFICULTIES, OUR RESISTANCE CONTINUES”

After the Turkish state attacked the Meydankê dam, the only source of water in Afrin, there were problems with the city's water supply. Therefore, old wells were reactivated to meet the needs of people with water tankers. The co-chair of a community on Hareta Melayî Street, Rewşen Hesen, is distributing water to the population on the street along with a municipal road tanker. She says it is a difficult time to overcome, however: "The Turkish state wants to drive people out of Afrin. But we are here and go nowhere. Every day, people migrate to the city. Although that makes the situation a bit more difficult for us, together with our people we will overcome the problems."

“WE WILL NOT LEAVE OUR LAND”

Many families from the villages and districts of Afrin live in shell buildings that lack doors and windows.

Selwa Muxtar reports that together with four families, a total of 20 people, she lives in a room without doors and windows: "Nevertheless, we will not leave our land. Where should we go? Yes, it's hard, we have no electricity, we have no water, we left our homes without anything to take with us, but we will never leave our land."

Şirîn Hemûdê reports that she lives in a room with 33 people, but will not leave Afrin under any circumstances.

SUPPORT FOR THE RESISTANCE FROM CIZIRE

As we leave Haretê Melayî and arrive at Newroz Square, we see a lot of buses moving slowly because of heavy traffic. We get on a bus and meet people from all over northern Syria supporting the resistance of Afrin.

“THE TURKISH STATE WANTS TO DIVIDE SYRIA”

As we drive from Newroz Square to the Mehmûdiyê neighborhood and then head towards Freedom Square, we meet a group of Arab, Syrian and Kurdish people from Til Temir who have come to Afrin to join the resistance. Xelef Ineha explains to us that the Turkish state has been keeping an eye on Syria: "We all live together in Syria as Arabs, Kurds, Syriacs in brotherhood. The invasion of the Turkish state is aimed at our unity. We have to oppose that together. The Syrian state does not fulfill its task and is silent on the Turkish invasion. But we as peoples of Syria will never accept this invasion."