IDPs of Afrin: We will never forget Turkey's crimes

 Following the Turkish occupation state’s attacks and its allied mercenary groups on November 29 last year, the Afrin People's Council decided to evacuate civilians to safe areas. The evacuation began on December 2, with civilians moving to regions under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

 To date, over 200,000 people have been displaced. The Democratic Autonomous Administration of the region has received these displaced individuals, relocating them to temporary shelters, houses, and residences across cities including Hasaka, Raqqa, Tabqa, and Qamishli.

 Layla Mustafa highlighted the tremendous difficulties they endure, noting that the hardship of displacement from Shahba exceeded even the ordeal of being uprooted from Afrin.

"We endured so much during the war in Afrin. We spent days on the streets when we were displaced to Shahba. Even in Shahba, our suffering continued. We faced siege conditions and daily Turkish attacks. We endured bombings that injured our children. Despite all of this, we persevered with the sole hope of returning to Afrin. We struggled and resisted for seven years, holding on to this hope, " Layla Mustafa said.

 Layla recounted how the Turkish occupation launched a brutal new offensive against the people of Afrin, displacing them once more to Jazira region. She continued:

 "During this second displacement, we faced hardships worse than anything we had experienced before. We saw corpses on the roadsides, victims of crimes committed by Turkey’s mercenaries. These horrors are unforgettable—not for us and not for our children. These crimes haunt them in their nightmares. We cannot forget, no matter what."

Layla emphasized that while the Autonomous Administration provided as much support as possible after their arrival in Hasaka, international organizations remained silent.

"No organization has acted to help us so far. What are people supposed to do under these conditions?"

 Zakiya Habash stated: "We were displaced from Afrin seven years ago. Our village, Um Al-Housh, was on the border, so it was constantly under bombardment. Now, the Turkish state has displaced us again, this time to Jazira. The houses we’ve moved into are in poor condition, and our suffering continues."

 Heydar Bakr stressed that Turkey's attacks on the Kurdish people have not ceased, but the Kurdish people have met these assaults with unwavering determination.

 "We are facing many challenges here in the Youth Housing. We criticize humanitarian organizations for their inaction. Let these organizations come and see our suffering with their own eyes," Bakr said.

He concluded by saying:"We will never cease our resistance. We will always fight for our return to Afrin. The Kurdish people will never bow to anyone."

a.k

ANHA