RIHA - Ibrahim Şêxo, Co-Spokesperson of Afrin Human Rights Organisation, said that 7 thousand families have returned to Afrin, where more than 300 thousand people fled due to Turkey's attack and occupation, and added that "250 thousand people are waiting to return".

 

More than 300 thousand Kurds, who were forced to flee Afrin after Turkey's attack and occupation in 2018, started to return after the 8-point agreement signed on 10 March between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim administration in Damascus. The people of Afrin, Gre Spi and Serekaniye, whose lands were occupied within the scope of the article "Guaranteeing the return of all displaced Syrians to their towns and villages while ensuring their protection by the Syrian state", started preparing to return to their lands. 

 

The city, where Turkey and its paramilitary groups settled after the occupation, has been known for many crimes against humanity such as massacres, looting, kidnapping and rape since then. Following the agreement signed with the interim government in Damascus under the leadership of the autonomous administration, Afrin residents, who were forced to flee their cities, started to return to their cities slowly.

 

'WE EXPECT 250 THOUSAND PEOPLE TO RETURN'

 

Speaking about the agreement and the preparations and returns afterwards, Afrin Human Rights Organisation Co-Spokesperson İbrahîm Şêxo said that more than 300 thousand people were displaced from the occupied lands. Ibrahîm Şêxo said, "People have been waiting to return for 7 years. Some citizens had made attempts to return before this agreement. However, we have not had a clear number until now. According to the data we collected after the reconciliation, nearly 7 thousand families have returned to Afrin. We estimate this number to be 100-150 thousand people. Another 250 thousand people are waiting to return."

 

Ibrahîm Şêxo said that many families have started to return to Efrin together since 8 December, when the Baathist regime collapsed, and added that Efrin residents who had to migrate from Til Rifat and Shahba to Tebqa and Reqa are also preparing for their return. İbrahîm Şêxo said, "A population of 200 thousand in Heleb is also waiting to return to Afrin. In fact, the number is increasing day by day. It is possible to say that it has reached 300 thousand. Efrin residents in Heleb are waiting for an agreement between the autonomous administration and the Damascus government. That agreement has not been reached yet. We are aware that this agreement requires ground and time. In fact, it was Ramadan when the return to Afrin reached large groups. Many Efrinis who returned here visited their relatives, acquaintances and of course their graves."

 

Ibrahîm Şêxo pointed out that the reason for the lack of stabilisation of the returns in Afrin is that paramilitary groups are still present in the city and that this problem continues to cause unrest in the city. Ibrahîm Şêxo reminded that Afrin was characterised by kidnapping, plunder, harassment and rape for many years after the occupation and said: "If they want the return to continue, both the Autonomous Administration and the Damascus government should ensure security inside. The returning Afrin residents should be able to defend themselves and the intervention of different groups should be prevented. The necessary steps have not been taken yet. Our people are still waiting to return. We are especially waiting for the groups affiliated to Turkey, which are in the position of occupiers there, to leave the city. Because these groups are still trying to gain control over the lands. This issue concerns Turkey. However, Turkey has still not taken any steps on this issue. It is trying to close the issue. This means the continuation of violations."

 

'RETURNING AFRIN RESIDENTS ARE SETTLING IN THEIR HOMES'

 

Stating that the population consisting of the families of the paramilitary groups that settled in the region later on has decreased to 200 thousand, Ibrahîm Şêxo added, "We know that if an agreement is reached with these groups by the YPG-YPJ fighters and the Autonomous Administration forces, the remaining groups in Afrin may return. Afrin residents who return to Afrin are not likely to be tortured, but they still face looting and theft. It was reported that the looting and theft is being carried out by the Turkish groups called Sultan Suleiman Shah Division and Sultan Murat. Many people who think they will face this are not returning because of this. We have learnt that robberies and looting are being carried out at night, but we can say that the current situation in Afrin is much better than in recent years. When Afrin people returned to Afrin, they did not live a nomadic life in tents this year as they have done for the last 8 years. We also received the news that many of those who left were given their own houses, which made us happy."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli