Afrin IDPs demand dignified return, criticize government delays

Thousands of displaced people from Afrin and Shahba live in temporary shelters in Tabaqa city after being displaced by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries. They face harsh weather conditions and a lack of basic services, yet they emphasize that what keeps them resilient is the safety and dignity they have found in the areas of the Autonomous Administration.

Saad Al-Omar, one of the forcibly displaced, said: “We were displaced twice under direct shelling of our homes. Now we live in tents that offer no protection from summer heat or winter cold.”

Al-Omar demanded a safe return with real guarantees, stating, “We don’t want to face the violations that those who remained in Afrin and Shahba are enduring, such as kidnappings and arrests that continue, with mercenaries looting our homes, even taking doors and walls.”

The greatest danger, according to Al-Omar, is that “children have been without education for eight years. This displacement has destroyed an entire generation. The transitional government, which claims to represent all Syrians but only serves one group, is stalling on resolving our issue. We demand it takes responsibility and ensures our dignified return.”

Asya Sheikho, a displaced woman from Shahba, said: “Life in displacement is harsh, but we hold onto hope. We want to return to our homes in peace and safety, and we will never forget Afrin. With determination, we will return despite all challenges.”

Fatima Hassan, another displaced person, stressed that only those who live through displacement can understand its suffering. She said: “Dust, heat, and deteriorating health conditions are our daily reality, but we endure because we found safety here, which is the most important thing we lost there. We were displaced in search of dignity, and today we call on the world to stand with us for a safe return.”

Fatima added: “We’ve heard many promises about returning, but just recently, a young man was killed while working among his trees, crushing the hope we had built. What kind of safety is this? We cannot return as long as violations continue. We demand the removal of mercenaries and the provision of protection so we can return to our homes with dignity.”

a.k

ANHA