IDPs from Serekaniy: Glimmer of hope for safe return despite hardships

In one of the displacement centers in Tal Tamr, part of Jazira Canton, Khawla Al-Abd Al-Aziz, forcibly displaced from the village of Al-Arisha in occupied Serekaniye, sits quietly. Her eyes take in the details of the small room, while her heart aches with longing for the land she was forced to leave behind.

Khawla, in her forties, is one of thousands of women who had to abandon their homes following the occupation of their villages by Turkish forces and allied militias, fleeing the crimes committed against them.

Forced Displacement in the Dead of Night

Recalling the night of her displacement, Khawla said, “On the evening of October 14, 2019, shelling approached our village, and the bombs fell heavily. We had no choice but to leave. I carried my children and could not take a single thing from our home. Everything we had built over the years became nothing but painful memories.”

She describes the long journey to Tal Tamr, the darkness surrounding the night-time escape, and the frightened children. “My youngest child was crying in fear, while the others asked why we left. I could only promise them that we would return soon,” she said.

 Schools Transformed into a Displacement Center

Khawla arrived with her husband, Abdul Hamid Al-Khalaf, and their seven children—three daughters and four sons—at the Musab ibn Umair School in Tal Tamr. The school, converted into a collective shelter for forcibly displaced people from Serekaniye and its villages, provides basic necessities such as food, water, and healthcare. However, overcrowding makes daily life a significant challenge.

Each family lives in a room no larger than 30 square meters. Khawla said, “The room is very cramped and crowded, but being together is our source of strength. We try to laugh, even though behind every laugh there is sorrow.”

Turning Pain into Perseverance

Despite the suffering in the displacement center, Khawla and her family face daily difficulties, including food and clothing shortages, limited living space, and reliance on minimal aid. Yet she has refused to succumb to despair. She began helping her husband clean and arrange vegetables, which he sells in the local market to support the family financially.

“Every task I perform, no matter how small, gives me a sense of strength and eases the feeling of helplessness in the face of all we have lost,” she said.

Displacement’s Toll on Children

Children and women are particularly affected by forced displacement. Khawla describes her children: “I see the sadness in their eyes. They ask about our old home and the school they left. I try to give them a sense of safety, but the reality is that forced displacement weighs heavily on every child’s heart.”

a.k

ANHA