Serdem camp: example of Afrinis’ self-management

JAFAR JAFO- FIDAN ABULLAH / AL-SHAHBA

The residents of Afrin, who live in al-Shahba canton, managed to reorganize the system of communes and councils from managing their daily lives and taking the necessary measures to protect themselves, and they were able to consolidate the cooperative spirit among each other, this has a great role in decreasing the suffering of the displaced people.

After the formation of the communes and their committees, in addition to the councils, the people hold their meetings on a weekly basis in addition to a comprehensive meeting that gathers them monthly, through which the discussion of the people's situation within the area and their requirements and solutions to their problems.

Serdem camp, where thousands of families are forced to leave after the attacks and the Turkish occupation aggression on their villages, is a picture of the autonomous administration which the residents managed it with their self-sustaining amid the failure of international and relief organizations to provide aid and help the people.

With the influx of residents inside the camps and securing all their needs, the administration within the camp set up 11 communes, each with committees and a co-chair, two councils were formed (east and west), and these councils work in coordination with the communes to visit all the people and get acquainted with their conditions and requirements.

Providing job opportunities for the displaced

After the loss of most of the people of Afrin their livelihood due to the Turkish occupation and to reduce the unemployment phenomenon, Serdem camp’s council coordinated with the Economic Committee in al-Shahba canton and provided employment opportunities for a number of displaced camp through the work of parents to harvest the pistachio season in addition to providing work for them in the land they planted after their displacement.

On this subject, Zaki Zeko said that opening this ​​work opportunity for them helped to spend useful time with each other in harvesting agricultural crops and also helped them financially.

Educating the children on culture and art

In addition, after the completion of the exams for the primary school year in coordination with the two camp councils, the communes and the center of Culture and Art, training courses were opened for children to benefit from the holiday. The courses include learning about folk dancing, singing, playing and theater.

In the context of the child, Haitham Murad, who joined the folklore dance, was pleased to open these courses and noted that most of their time goes on their knowledge of Kurdish culture and art.

Meeting the women's demand in opening an educational course

On the other hand, the women's organization is working to consolidate its organization within the camp, by organizing tours between the tents to women and to identify their problems and requirements, at the request of women, Kongra Star is preparing to open Arabic and Kurdish language courses.

Humanitarian and relief organizations should provide assistance to their families

On the coordination of the communes, councils and collective work in Serdem camp, Idris Waqas, the administrative member of the camp, said: "On a regular and organized basis, we hold our meeting, in which we discuss the situation of the people and of course the communes and councils are composed of the residents of the camp themselves.”

Idris Waqas concluded by asking international organizations concerned with human rights and relief to provide assistance to the displaced people living in al-Shahba canton.

H/S

ANHA