Shahba / Shehba

Shahba / Shehba is the area between the towns / cities of Manbij, al-Bab, Azaz, Semann, Jarabulus and Tel Rifat. It is the last free region of the Afrin canton, where lots of refugees who fled the Turkish invasion and military occupation from 2018 are now living.

In the 74 villages of Shehba liberated from ISIS and in the city of Til Rifat, approximately 100 thousand Shehba inhabitants and over 100 thousand Afrin inhabitants live, who are both locals of these regions and from the Turkish-occupied Şhehba areas. There are five refugee camps in Shehba, where the inhabitants of Afrin had to migrate from Afrin because of the Turkish occupation, and some of the refugees who had migrated to Afrin before.

The Shehba region is now largely occupied by the Turkish state and its allies fighting under the banner of radical Sunni Islam. The small part of Shehba north of Aleppo was liberated by democratic forces in 2016, which afterwards became the Shehba Canton (Kurdish: Kantona Şehba‎, Arabic: مقاطعة الشهباء‎, Classical Syriac: ܦܠܩܐ ܕܓܙܪܬܐ‎) .

Formerly the Shehba Canton was seized by Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups in 2012, then captured by Islamic State (ISIS) in 2013. Because of ISIS’ brutal rule, exposing civilians to extensive killings, torture and robbery, the local population left the area and fled mainly to the peaceful safehaven of Afrin Canton. The original population of the area was about 65% Kurdish, 25% Arab, 5% Circassian and Arnaout, and 5% Turkmen.

The 58 villages liberated in 2016 (including Tel Rifat, Kafr Naya, Ahris, Um Hosh and Fafin) are situated in the part of Shehba formally connected to Azaz.

This area recently became the destination for hundreds of thousands of refugees from Afrin, who themselves fled the invasion of the Turkish state, and the bombardment of Afrin City from 18th March 2018. While the conflict has since faded from the headlines, it is still a grave reality for the displaced people who fled to Shehba, where makeshift refugee camps were set up with the limited resources available there. Shehba is a small region north of Aleppo, surrounded by Syrian government forces on one side and Turkish-backed rebels on the other. Liberated from ISIS in 2016, its infrastructure is still devastated, and mines left by ISIS still pose a danger to civilians.

Shehba’s soil is fertile and the area has high crop yields. In the past, wheat, barley, chickpeas and peanuts were cultivated, and the Shehba region was an important contributor to economy of Aleppo governorate and Syria. However, the agricultural infrastructure has been completely destroyed by the civil war

Shahba is a nickname for the city of Aleppo. The Shahba Canton denotes the parts of Northern Aleppo Governorate of Syria that are under the administrative control of the Democratic Autonomous Administrations of North and East Syria.

Women of Afrin earn living with their skills

Women, who were displaced to Shahba Canton after the Turkish state occupied Afrin, earn a living with their skills due to rising prices caused by the embargo imposed by the Syrian government on Shahba Canton.

Olives stolen from Afrin on the world market

Since the occupation of Afrin in March 2018, the Turkish state has established a regime of looting and exploitation. Olive and olive products were the main source of income in the region before the invasion. With the Turkish invasion, Afrin’s olive groves have been plundered and have become a source of funding for militiamen from the Turkish-established mercenary “Syrian National Army” (SNA). The SNA militias loot the region’s olive production and bring it to the world market via Turkey.

Blessings of spring makes women of Shahba happy

The displaced women of Afrin and the women of Shahba, who are engaged in agriculture and husbandry, say that the blessings of spring this year ease their suffering under siege.

Agricultural cooperatives develop with women in North-East Syria

The Economic Committee of the North-East Syria manages 45 thousand acres of agricultural land through cooperatives which provide income for about a thousand women.

Syria and Rojava after Maras-centered earthquake

The Maras-centered earthquakes destroyed more than a hundred buildings in Syria and Rojava. 3,581 people lost their lives and 5,348 were injured. Thousands are still under the rubble in the Turkish-occupied areas as the death toll is not disclosed.

Agricultural projects of Kongra Star aim to empower women

The Economy Committee of the Kongra Star has launched a new agricultural project to support displaced women.

“Jiyan Restaurant” provides job opportunities for women

Women are employed in Jiyan Restaurant, which was opened by the project of the Women's Committee in Shehba. Women working in Jiyan Restaurant, where mainly local dishes are served, are happy to achieve their economic freedom.

Vegetable Market Run by Afrin Women Opens in Shehba

The vegetable market will be opened after the Eid al-Adha, from 7 am to 7 pm and 60 women will work in it.

Project for Women Refugees from Afrin Kicks off in Shehba

Project mangers said that their work will be expanded to produce yogurt, pepper and tomato paste and added that products will be sold and profit shared among women.

​Commune’s Work Provides Streets of Al Ahdath Area with Electricity

A number of communes in the Al Ahdath area of Al Shahba canton, in a co-operative work, installed light bulbs in the streets.