Afrin IDPs in Kobani head back to their homes

The first group of IDPs from Afrin departed this morning from the city of Kobani toward their hometown as part of organized return trips, following nine years of forced displacement suffered by the people of the region.

This marks the fifth return convoy so far, as four previous groups had already departed from the Jazira region in recent weeks, within the framework of the continued return of IDPs to their areas despite the ongoing challenges and conditions.

Before the convoy departed, a statement was delivered by Kobani District Director Ibrahim Muslim and the Deputy Co-Chair of the Autonomous Administration in Kobani, Mizgin Khalil, in the presence of a delegation from the Interim Government, alongside the deputy commander of the Internal Security Forces in Hasakah province, Siamand Afrin, the Co-Chair of the Autonomous Administration’s Foreign Relations Department, Ilham Ahmed, and a delegation from the Kobani Administration.

The statement said: “Today is a day of love and peace, as Afrin families are returning from the city of Kobani to the city of Afrin, their original homeland, and their number is estimated at around 600 families,” noting that some families were unable to join the convoy due to their children continuing the current academic year.

The statement added that preparations for the convoy had been completed over the past few days in accordance with the January 29 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Interim Government, stressing that all displaced people are expected to return to their homes before Eid al-Adha.

The Kobani Administration also expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to returning the displaced families to their homes, affirming that “the language of love, peace, and brotherhood is the slogan of the new Syria.”

The administration further noted that the people of Kobani had hosted Afrin’s displaced residents throughout the years of displacement, sharing with them both joy and sorrow until they became one family, while expressing hope that peace would prevail across all parts of Syria.

The convoy witnessed broad participation from residents who reaffirmed their attachment to the right of return to their homes and stressed the need for the restoration of normal life in the city of Afrin.

A-H 

ANHA