Delîla Axîn /JINHA

SHENGAL - Children those who witnessed Shengal Massacre told us the fear and hope they experienced. "Peshmerga forces fled with us when ISIS entered the city. We didn't have water and food. Many our friends were killed. Then, heval(s) came. We shout "Long live Leader Apo (refer to Abdullah Öcalan)" when we see the heval(s). We would die if they didn't come." said children. (Heval: means "friend" in Kurdish language. The fighters are called as Heval.)

Children those who witnessed the massacre following the attacks were carried out on August 3 in Shengal by ISIS. They told us what they faced during the attacks. You can see the fear, helplessness, pain and particulary the hope in their eyes when they told us what they faced.

One of these children is Serhıldan Xêrî and she told us her story; "We came here by fleeing from this valley. We were about to die due to the lack of water and food. Peshmerga forces fled just after us. Then, heval(s) came to escape us. ISIS members came and we fled and entered caves. We heard gunshots when our mothers and fathers went out. Once, we sit down under a tree. There were many people there like us. People died due to the lack of water and food. We were so scared when ISIS came but we aren't scared anymore because we are stronger now. We know all heval(s) so when we see them, we shout, "Leader Apo".

Another child named Sediya Dexîl said that they had to walk from their village to Shengal Mountains, "Many of our friends died on the way. Before the massacre, we played game with our friends in the streets. We were very happy that time. ISIS came and killed children and women. Children died due to the lack of water and food. Children hadn't had milk. Peshmerga forces were afraid of ISIS and followed us. Then, heval(s) came to save us. We became happy when we saw them."

Mersîla Naîv fled from Rabîa with her family she told us the massacre day, "We felt thirsty; however there weren't water and food. ISIS abducted our neighbors' children and women. My older brother told us that we should flee immediately. We fled. Heval (s) rescued us. I love the YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units) much. Whenever I see them, I show the victory sign to them and shout, "Long live Leader Apo." We would die if they didn't come to escape us."

(zt/dk/gd)