The northern Syrian city of Tel Rifat is the focus of Turkish aggression. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has announced several times that he would conquer Tel Rifat and Minbic and then occupy a 30-kilometer strip along the Turkish border from there. As the threats grow louder, the Turkish army and its jihadist mercenaries are attacking the region with artillery shells on an almost daily basis. In view of the acute threat to the self-governing region in Northern and Eastern Syria, the Autonomous Administration had declared a state of emergency.

Organizing for the revolutionary people's war against invasion

The base councils and communes, the core of self-government, have therefore established state of emergency committees. They are responsible for taking action in situations where protection is needed and for organizing the members of society according to the principles of revolutionary people's war. The committees are controlled by the councils and have various special tasks.

First aid course

In view of the Turkish attacks, first aid training was initially carried out in specialized courses by doctors for members of the health committees. Each municipality and council has such committees responsible for health issues. These committees have a multiplier function and pass on their knowledge to the rest of society. Accordingly, the health committees conduct first aid training courses in their communities. On 18 July, the Health Committee for Northern and Eastern Syria called on the population to take part in these courses.

Primary care committee established

A committee was also set up to provide basic care for the population under fire, bombing and attacks. The committee is responsible for providing people with food and other basic needs.

Committee for the wounded and killed

An emergency committee was also established. Within the committee there are many groups that organize themselves in the event of attacks to immediately bring the injured and dead from the combat zone to the hospital. Such groups have formed in almost every neighbourhood.

Defense committees

The defense committees have been part of local self-government since the beginning of the Rojava revolution. They are responsible for protecting the neighbourhoods. Structures have now been created within the defense committees to ensure security behind the front lines.

Information committees

This committee has the task of educating the population weekly through educational programs and organizing in the event of a possible imminent attack.

"If necessary, we will sacrifice our lives"

Over a hundred thousand internally displaced persons from Afrin live in the canton of Shehba. Xalîde Qasim from Afrin lives in Tel Rifat. She told ANHA news agency: “We fled to Shehba Canton more than four years ago due to the attacks by the Turkish army and its mercenaries. After the migration, the mercenaries started bombing here too and committed many massacres. We will resist the attacks of the revolutionary people's war. We will not allow any more regions to be occupied. If necessary, we will sacrifice our lives to protect our country.”