IDPs of Serekaniyê: only collective return guarantees safety, dignity

Tens of thousands of families were forced to flee from the city of Serekaniyê and its countryside at the end of 2019 due to attacks by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries, leaving them scattered between displacement camps and the loss of their homes and lands.

The attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries on the cities of Serekaniyê and Girê Spî in late 2019 led to the displacement of more than 150,000 families from the two cities, as a result of violations and crimes committed against the population.

Under these circumstances, the displaced people of Serekaniyê still hope for a safe return to their city, away from threats to their lives, and with the withdrawal of those who seized their properties from the area, in accordance with the provisions of recent agreements.

The agreement signed on January 29 between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Interim Government stipulates, in one of its clauses, guaranteeing the safe return of displaced people to their homes and regions and ensuring the restoration of their properties.

Among them are displaced people in the Serekaniyê camp east of Al-Hasakah, who recount the destruction of their villages and properties, and emphasize the difficulty of returning without guarantees of safety and a dignified life after years of displacement and suffering.

Collective return will safeguard the rights of IDPs

At the beginning, the displaced man Mohammad Al-Wazou from the village of Al-Rubaiyat in the villages of the Zreghan line said:
“All the parties responsible for the issue of returning the displaced are aware of our suffering. The biggest obstacle facing the displaced is their inability to return due to the total destruction of the villages, especially in Al-Rubaiyat.”

He added:
“Everyone wishes to return to their villages and homes, but individual return is extremely difficult due to the lack of security and the most basic necessities of life. Therefore, I do not advise individual return because of the absence of safety.”

He stressed:
“The return we want and hope for, after enduring long years of displacement and suffering, is a collective return with dignity and security. As for random return, I do not recommend it, we need to ensure a dignified life when returning to our homes.”

Settlers are still in our village, and we demand a safe return and their withdrawal

For her part, the displaced woman Seto Sidi from the village of Tel Beidar, east of the occupied city of Serekaniyê, said:
“Until now, settlers are still in our village, while our homes have been looted and only the walls remain. My children’s houses have been completely destroyed, and nothing is left for us.”

She added:
“What we demand is a safe return. They are still present in our village, and we cannot return now. What we want is to return safely and for our villages to be free of settlers and armed factions.”

How long will you stay in our homes and lands?

In the course of the interviews, the displaced man Sabo Hami from the city of Serekaniyê said:
“Our homes are destroyed, and our agricultural lands are being cultivated and seized by others. In my house, a settler lives I do not know where he came from.”

He added:
“I own 140 dunams in the village of Al-Farisa, which settlers are cultivating and taking over. What we want is a safe return to our city and our homes, and the departure of the settlers from them. I ask: how long will you remain in our homes and our land?”

ANHA