Afrin IDP children between Turkish attacks and Syrian shelling

Tens of Afrin children lost their lives in attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation forces and the affiliated mercenary groups in addition to land mines laid by mercenary groups in the Shahba Canton.

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, 70 children were martyred and around 213 were injured in the Turkish assault on Afrin and after their displacement to Shahba.  

The unjustified blockade imposed by the Syrian government on the Shahba Canton had a role in aggravating the situation in the canton as they are denied access to Aleppo's hospitals and dispensaries not to mention the rarity of medicines in the canton under blockade.

Nebi Bakr, 14, an Afrin IDP lost his leg last year due to a mine explosion laid by ISIS mercenary groups in the canton in the company of his cousin that lost a leg too.   

Nebi relates his story that took place in the village of Sheikh Issa as they did not know they were in a mine filed at the outskirts of Tal Rifa't. 

Nebi said he suffers unbearably in his life as he is obliged to walk for a 20 minutes daily to reach his school.

Nebi said the Avrin Hospital rendered held in providing him with an artificial limb denouncing the role played by international organizations that disregard the IDPs of Afrin living in Shahba Canton.

In turn, administrator in the Health Committee of the Afrin Council Berivan Hisein said the most affected by the Turkish occupation shelling and the blockade imposed by the Syrian government are children as they are deprived of basic necessities of life to pass their childhood safely.

Berivan indicated the international organizations did not provide anything to Afrin children and keep watching. Many of these are working in Shahba under false names just deliver promises, Berivan said. 

Berivan noted the administration of the Shahba Canton seeks to provide all necessities within its available capabilities. The held is provided to children lost limbs adding the capabilities are not sufficient to cover the all needs.

From his part, administrator in the Documenting Office of the Kurdish Red Crescent Haidar Mustafa said children are bore the brunt of the Turkish occupation aggression on the Afrin Canton that lasted 58 days.

Haidar said the from the very first day of the aggression up to date, 213 injuries were documented and 70 martyrs under 15. 

Haidar said many lost lives and injured by mines laid by ISIS mercenary groups in the Shahaba Canton, '' up to date land mines are still pose threats to children living in the Shahba Canton. Many lost their lives and others their limbs, not to mention the constant Turkish shelling on the canton and the Shera district of Afrin.

Haidar said the Kurdish Red Crescent provided many children with artificial limbs.

In the course of three years Turkish occupation forces committed three massacres against children under 15. The first was in Tal Rif'at in 2019 claiming the lives of 8 children and the injury of 12 others. The second was in the village of Aqbiye in Sherawa and the third was in 2021 in Tal Rif'at too claiming the lives of three children.

L..A

ANHA