Returnees from Lebanon: DAA's initiative is the best option for safe return

The ongoing war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah since September 23 has forced tens of thousands of Syrians, who work in Lebanon or had moved there at the onset of the Syrian crisis, to return to their homeland, while the war continues to claim more lives of the residents of southern Lebanon. 

 Perhaps the initiative launched by the Democratic Autonomous Administration for the return of Syrians and the reception of Lebanese refugees on September 24th was the safest destination for those coming from Lebanon, given the security concerns about returning via the Lebanese-Syrian border, which is exposed to bombardment by Israel.

 The Crisis Cell in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, which is responsible for matters concerning arrivals from Lebanon, announced that the number of people coming from Lebanon to the region has reached 19,502, including 74 Lebanese nationals and 19 corpses.

 The Crisis Cell specialized in the affairs of arrivals from Lebanon provides health and food services and transit facilities, in addition to the measures and facilities offered by the representative office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Lebanon.

 There were no obstacles unlike the Syrian-Lebanese border.

 Citizen Mahmoud al-Mohammad, from the city of Hajin, returning from Lebanon, said: "I emigrated to Lebanon four years ago in search of work, and today we returned to our city of Hajin after the Israeli war with Hezbollah. We faced some difficulties in reaching our areas, especially at the crossing with Syria."

 Al-Mohammad praised the role of the autonomous administration and its stance towards Syrians in general and even towards Lebanese, noting that things were easy, explaining: "We did not expect this reception and attention towards the returnees, we noticed the facilitation of matters by the Democratic Autonomous Administration, and we look forward to more."

 Al-Mohammad describes: "We felt safe upon entering the areas of North and East Syria. The reception was warm without any obstacles, unlike what we faced at the Syrian border."

 Al-Mohammad pointed out that the commune and the local council took his family's data in order to provide bread and fuel, in addition to enrolling their children in schools in Hajin.

 "We felt safe."

 For his part, Saleh al-Muhimid, a resident of the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside and one of the returnees from Lebanon, said: "We suffered a lot until we reached here. We spent four days in the wilderness. Upon reaching the Tabqa crossing, we felt safe. The autonomous administration provided us with assistance at the crossing and ensured our safe arrival to our areas without any difficulties like those we experienced on the roads."

 Al-Muhimid expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the autonomous administration for these facilities and this reception.

 "Our hope and security have increased."

 As for Maryam al-Khalid, who returned from Lebanon with her family, she said: "We had to flee on our own, the roads were very difficult, and we were forced to pay 100 dollars to cross the Syrian-Lebanese border. Upon our arrival in Damascus, there were no hotels to accommodate us, and everything was expensive and hard to secure."

 Maryam al-Khalid explained in her talk that her children lost a lot of money due to the checkpoints imposed by the Damascus government forces to allow them to pass, in addition to being subjected to mistreatment.

 Maryam al-Khalid explained: "Our hope and security increased with our arrival at the Tabqa crossing and the reception by the autonomous administration."

 And she confirmed at the end of her talk that she would not think of traveling outside her city, Hajin, saying: "And we will stay in our homes with our families."

 T/ Satt.

 ANHA