Over 300 thousand civilians were forced to flee their homes due to the invasion attacks carried out by the Turkish state and its mercenaries against Serêkaniyê on 9 October 2019.

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria established the Washokanî Camp in the north of Hesekê for refugees coming from Serêkaniyê.

One of the families who settled in Washokanî Camp is that of Necah and Fahrettin Mihemed.

Trying to carry on with their job in front of a tent

Necah Mihemmed was selling shoes in Serêkaniyê, while Fahrettin was a barber. Necah and Fahrettin Mihemmed are trying to continue their jobs in front of the tent they live in the Washokanî Camp.

Necah Mihemed has not yet gone over the brutality they experienced. "Erdogan constantly said he will attack, he was constantly threatened us. On 9 October, 3-4 Turkish warplanes belonging to the Turkish state bombed our city. Warplanes directly targeted the city center. Some civilians died and some were injured. Despite the intense attacks, we did not leave our home and we were actually not thinking of leaving. However, we had to go when the planes hit our homes. We were subjected to great persecution and brutality."

Necah Mihemmed pointed out that all peoples, Kurds, Arabs, Armenians and Turkmens live together in Serêkaniyê and said: "We had a happy and peaceful life. The Turkish state did not allow us to continue to live in happiness. The fascist state wanted to divide the peoples and attacked the region. They plundered our house and workplaces. They forced us out of our houses. We should bring to account those who carried out this persecution."

Sharing the latest information she received from Serêkaniyê, Necah said: "They burned our house after looting our belongings. They even burned the trees in our garden. They left neither doors nor windows. The Turkish should be held accountable for this brutality. I dont want anything. I want my house only if my things are there."

The YPG and YPJ will liberated Serêkaniyê

Necah Mihemed said that she is very bound to the land and city in which she lived and added: "I was so sad when I left my home and the land where I was born, just as a person gets upset when she leaves her child. However, I know I will be back to the land where I was born again. I believe that the YPG and YPJ forces will one day liberate Serêkaniyê from the invaders."

We want our homes back!

Fahrettin Mihemed said that all his family had to live together in a small tent and added: "We were forced out of our house even though we had committed no crime. We had a shop, we were working together as a family and making a living. We are currently living in a tent in a camp. We want to live in our own home, not in tents. Everyone should do their best for us to help us go back."