Afrin's people: We resisted to return, occupation destroyed co-existence

The residents of Afrin made clear that their resistance in al-Shahba since a year despite the destruction is only for their return to their homes in Afrin, stressing that during the presence of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in Afrin, they enjoyed the co-existence and the peoples' fraternity which were destroyed by the Turkish occupation and mercenaries.

NEWS

13 January, 2019 05:36

JAFER JAFO - GHANDI ALO/AL-SHAHBA

The first anniversary of the attacks of the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries on Afrin and the departure of its inhabitants towards al-Shahba canton is approaching.

So how do the people of Afrin live amid the destruction and damage left by the mercenaries during their occupation of al-Shahba, and why do the people tolerate to live here?

About a year ago, thousands of Afrin residents have been living in al-Shahba after the attacks of the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries on Afrin canton, massacres and destruction inflicted to the homes and infrastructures.

The lives of the people of Afrin continue in al-Shahba amid destroyed houses and shops on the roads, in addition to living in mosques.

The people of Afrin withstood the summer heat in al-Shahba in the camps and the houses and showed great resistance and steadfastness, facing the difficulties.

The winter came and the people of Afrin continue to resist without being bored. They are exposed to cold and frosty weather, even they were exposed to floods that caused the displacement of dozens of people from their homes.

The citizen Hannan Heftaro expressed his resistance despite what he suffered from; the floods in al-Shahba, and continued, "We left Afrin after the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries' brutal attacks on it. We had olive fields and agricultural lands. We stayed in Afrin and resisted the Turkish occupation. Here in this destruction, we continue to live."

Shukri Bakr explained that they enjoyed security and stability in Afrin during the presence of the Democratic Autonomous Administration, and he said, "We were enjoying the coexistence and peoples' fraternity in Afrin. There was no problem until the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries began to attack and occupy Afrin."

The citizen Abdo Ali stressed that there is no reason for their presence in al-Shahba only to resist for the liberation of Afrin.

He added, "Our houses were destroyed while we were exposed to shelling by the warplanes and tanks. The people of Afrin were martyred and wounded. We cannot live within the destruction except for the sake of return."

A.H

ANHA