Serekaniye IDPs renew demands for safe return as 2026 approaches

Amid the political changes taking place in Syria following the fall of the Baath Party regime and the assumption of power by the transitional government, the issue of the displaced remains one of the most pressing files on the Syrian scene, accompanied by renewed hopes for a safe and dignified return to their homes.

The displaced residents of Serekaniye living in Al-Talae Camp in the countryside of Hasakah, within al-Jazira Canton, are enduring difficult humanitarian conditions. They face the extreme heat of summer and the cold of winter, along with rain and snow, in addition to a clear lack of aid and basic services, as their displacement enters its seventh year.

A Safe and Dignified Return

In this context, displaced resident Bashar Issa Koush said that six years have passed since they were forcibly displaced, expressing his hope that 2026 would be a year of goodness for all Syrians and that their return to their lands and homes would be realized in safety and reassurance.

He added: “We want a safe and dignified return. What matters is that we return to our land with dignity, but as long as the occupation continues, we cannot return.”

“I Miss My City”

For her part, displaced woman Sheikha Hami Khalil affirmed that six years have passed since their displacement, calling on the international community to ensure the return of all displaced Syrians not only the people of Serekaniye to their original areas. She said: “We hope that in 2026 our city will be liberated and that we will return to it. We want a just and safe return.”

Meanwhile, Radin Ahmad Oso expressed her deep longing for her city, saying that they are entering the seventh year of displacement while holding onto hope of returning in the new year. She added: “My heart longs for my city. I want to return to it on foot; we do not even need cars. We believe that one day we will return.”

“We Are Tired of This Suffering”

In turn, Batoul Jomaa Al-Hamad pointed to the ongoing suffering of the displaced in the camps for six years due to heat, cold, and rain, stressing that the long wait has made life even harsher. She said: “We are tired of this suffering, and we hope that in the new year we will return to our homes in safety and stability, that goodness will prevail throughout Syria, and that our return will be with dignity, pride, and security.”

The displaced residents of Serekaniye, like other displaced Syrians, continue to cling to their right to return to their homes, amid aspirations that the coming phase will bring real solutions that put an end to their years-long suffering.

ANHA