By Dilsoz Youssef
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Students of Shahida Rayhan middle school, located near the Turkish border in the city of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, have finally resumed their education. They were forcibly absent for over a week due to a Turkish attack that targeted a nearby power facility, which was a mere 100 meters away from the school.
Sidar Khalil, the school principal, recalls the moments of the shelling that took place near their school and says, “Thank God the shelling occurred after school hours.”
He further added to North Press, “These attacks have had a negative impact on the educational process and have sparked concerns among the residents, who refrained from sending their children to school for over a week.”
On Oct. 5, Turkish forces launched intense attacks targeting infrastructure and vital facilities in areas held by the Autonomous Administration of North and East of Syria (AANES). This included the power facility on the Northern Belt road in Qamishli, near the Shahida Rayhan school, which has been put completely out of service due to a Turkish drone strike.
The estimated value of the damage to these facilities is over $1 billion, according to Muhammad Ibrahim, the director of oil fields at the town of Rmelan, in west of the city of Qamishli, told North Press.
Thousands of students have been adversely affected by the Turkish bombardment, resulting in the disruption of their education. The attacks has targeted numerous areas in close proximity to educational facilities, said a statement from the AANES.
The students at the Shahidah Rayhan school, and other schools affiliated with the AANES, were preparing for the semi-final exams. However, Khalil pointed out that the Turkish attacks caused students to miss their classes.
Despite the official opening of schools a few days ago, residents are still concerned about their children, especially those attending schools near the border.
Abdulmalik Jalbi, a resident of the al-Zaytonia neighborhood in Qamishli, which is very close to the Turkish border, said that when bombardment occurs, they cannot leave their homes. He wondered, “So how can we send our children to school?”
Jalbi, who works as a street vendor and is in his seventies, added, “Fear controls everyone, young and old, but children are the most affected. When loud noises are heard, they scream and fear. They do not attend schools because our areas are close to the border.”
He explained that the absence of their children from schools affects their education, and they fear sending them again.
The Turkish attacks have caused the suspension of 31 schools located near the border strip in Hasakah Governorate, officials in the Education Directorate of the AANES told North Press.
Mustafa Farhan, co-chair of the AANES Education Directorate, said that the Turkish attacks forced them to suspend these schools due to their proximity to infrastructure facilities that have been targeted.
He added to North Press, “Gradually, students have returned to schools, at least 80 percent of them. However, concerns still persist among parents, fearing further attacks on the area,” noting that around 4,200 students were deprived of education due to the impact of the attacks.
He further stated, “Four schools in the area have suffered direct damage to windows and doors. We are currently working on repairing them to ensure the full return of students and the continuation of the educational process.”