Serê Kaniyê IDPs could jeopardize their lives without international guarantee

Displaced resident Aido Muhammad al-Hamid returned to Hasakah after a brief visit to her home in the Serê Kaniyê countryside of Rojava (eastern Syria), seven years after her forced displacement following the Turkish army and its mercenaries' occupation of the city in 2019. However, the visit brought only the shock of reality, as she found her home destroyed, uninhabitable, and completely looted.

She says she entered her village hoping to check on her home and land, but what she found there was enough to postpone the idea of ​​returning indefinitely. She explained that the signs of destruction were evident everywhere.

The problem doesn't stop at the destruction and devastation. Aido al-Hamid pointed out that her family faces direct threats because some of its members previously worked within the institutions of the Autonomous Administration. She emphasized that the fear of kidnapping or murder makes permanent residence in the area extremely dangerous.

She adds that the lack of basic services and the absence of any reconstruction support further complicate the return. She demands real guarantees and compensation to help displaced people rebuild their homes and secure access to energy and water.

In another small tent inside one of the al-Tala'i camps in the city of al-Hasakah, displaced woman Zakia Muhammad tells a similar story, but she hasn't yet visited her home. She says that the mere thought of returning fills her with anxiety, especially since she supports a family of ten. Zakia Mohammed confirms that the news she receives from Serê Kaniyê makes returning almost impossible, describing the city's economic situation as "devastating," given the lack of electricity and water and the soaring prices of food.

"I have children, and I can't risk their lives in an unsafe environment. We haven't seen our homes for seven years," she adds, emphasizing that any return must be collective, not individual, and must be accompanied by genuine international guarantees, including demining, complete security for the area, and the provision of basic necessities.

The stories of Aido and Zakia reflect the reality faced by thousands of displaced people from Serê Kaniyê, at a time when talk of a limited return of some individuals is increasing, while the suffering in the camps is exacerbated by the recent heavy rains that flooded parts of them.

Between the desire to return and the fear of the current situation, the displaced continue to assert that Serê Kaniyê still lacks security, stability, and services, and that any return at this stage will remain fraught with danger unless serious guarantees are provided to ensure the protection of the residents and the reconstruction of their city. On January 29, the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Interim Government reached an agreement that included several provisions, including ensuring a safe return for displaced persons, but this provision is still experiencing slow implementation.

ANHA