Hope of return: Afrin's IDPs continue their struggle to reclaim their land from Turkish occupation

The suffering of Afrin's displaced people, who were forced to leave their homes due to the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries in 2018, continues to this day. These displaced people, who had been living peacefully in their areas, found themselves forced to flee and seek refuge in other areas in search of safety. However, they did not find comfort in new places and instead faced greater challenges. Despite the years that have passed since this displacement, their hopes of returning to their homes in Afrin, the city that was once their source of pride and refuge, remain.

The First and Second Displacements: Ongoing Suffering

On March 18, 2018, Turkey and its mercenaries occupied the city of Afrin, and the forced displacement of residents of various ages and social classes began. They were displaced to other areas, most notably al- Shahba region, which became a temporary home for many Afrin families.

These displaced people lived in camps under extremely difficult conditions, relying heavily on humanitarian aid provided by some local organizations. The first displacement was not the only one; they were displaced again at the end of 2024 due to attacks by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries on their areas, forcing them to head towards cities in al-Jazira, Euphrates, Raqqa, and Tabqa cantons.

Continuous Struggle... Hope for Return

Despite all these years, the displaced have always held one hope in their hearts: to return to Afrin. On every occasion, and every holiday, this hope is renewed, and they insist that they will return no matter how long it takes.

With the advent of Eid, many displaced people emphasized that they think of nothing but a safe return to their homes, away from the occupation and daily threats. Speaking about their current situation, many expressed their hope that they will be able to return to their homes soon.

In an interview with ANHA's agency, Muhyiddin Muhammad, one of the displaced people from Afrin, said: "Afrin is not just a city for us; it is a symbol of our resistance and our existence. We have been displaced twice. On this Eid, we are far from Afrin, and all we hope for is to return to it as soon as possible. We cannot bear to be away from our homeland any longer."

He added, "Our hope of returning safely is our only dream, and we call on the international community to help us return to Afrin. The security situation in the city under Turkish occupation and its mercenaries is deteriorating significantly, and we are concerned for the future of the city and the people of Afrin."

Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, who spoke about his daily suffering, explained that he had been displaced more than once due to the war in Syria, first from Aleppo, then from Afrin, and finally from Shahba due to the Turkish occupation. He said, "Living here in the areas to which we were displaced is not easy. We are far from our land, our families, and our friends, and we cannot live a normal life under these conditions. But our hope is to return to Afrin. We want to live in peace in our homeland."

In the same context, Ahmed Bakr noted that the displacement seven years ago has left a deep wound in their hearts, especially since they have not been able to visit the graves of their martyrs.

He added, "We've been away from Afrin for years, and the further we move away from our land, the more our suffering increases. We cannot celebrate our holiday without being there, in our city, which was the source of our strength. We want to return and live a dignified life as we did before."

Ahmed Bakr noted that the situation in Afrin under the Turkish occupation has become more difficult, concluding his remarks by saying, "We are not asking for anything other than a safe return to our city. We want to return to our homes and lands that were forcibly taken from us. We look forward to the future, but this future is linked only to a return to Afrin."

T/S

ANHA