Displaced people from the city of Tal Abyad/Gire Sipi, residing in the Tal al-Saman camp in the northern countryside of Raqqa province in northeastern Syria, indicated that the biggest obstacle to their return to their homes is the presence of armed factions loyal to the Turkish occupation. They emphasized, “We will not return unless there are real guarantees for a safe return that preserve the rights of all communities present in the region.”
For more than five years, thousands of displaced people from the city of Tal Abyad have been living in the Tal al-Saman camp, north of Raqqa province, under harsh humanitarian conditions after being displaced from their villages and homes under the conditions of war and occupation.
The camp houses approximately 7,000 people, and their suffering is recurrent, as they endure the scorching summer heat and the cold winter cold, which floods them and sometimes uproots their tents. With the scarcity of services and the lack of humanitarian support, these people have only one demand, which everyone reiterates: “Safe return to their areas.”
Adula Khalil Hami, a displaced person from the village of Taybeh, near the city of Tal Abyad, said, “The general conditions of the camps are well known to everyone. Residents live in difficult conditions that lack the most basic necessities of life.”
She pointed out that services in the camp are dependent on available resources and the number of organizations present. She explained that the Tal al-Saman camp is supported by only one organization, and its current support does not exceed 10%, at a time when the camp is in dire need of water, electricity, sanitation, and other basic services.
Adula continued, “Today we say: ‘Enough of what we’ve been through,’ and this is the voice of all residents. We demand a safe return to our areas and villages, and the expedited implementation of the March 10 agreement.”
She emphasized that the greatest obstacle to return is the presence of armed factions loyal to the Turkish occupation. She emphasized that a safe return is impossible in the absence of security and stability, in addition to the lack of livelihoods.
She emphasized, “We will not return unless there are real guarantees for a safe return that preserve the rights of all components present in the region.”
Concluding her remarks, she appealed to the guarantor states, the international coalition, and human rights organizations to consider the suffering of the camp residents, emphasizing, “We are the owners of the land and the rightful owners, and we have had enough of the displacement we have suffered in the camps.”
Suzan Muhammad Hami, also displaced from the village of Taybeh, said that the situation inside the camp is extremely difficult, describing their lives there as “just about the way we are.”
Suzan Muhammad called for “a safe return to our areas, and for us to return as we were before, without occupation, with security and safety, and the provision of basic services such as water and electricity.” She noted that the greatest obstacle to return is the lack of security, adding, “There is no security there; we cannot return.”
For his part, displaced Muhammad al-Mustafa, from the town of Suluk, said that he was displaced in 2019, stressing that he has suffered greatly as a result of repeated displacement.
He explained that someone living in his area and home is not the same as someone living in tents, where the suffering is doubled and living conditions are extremely difficult.
Mustafa pointed out that six years of displacement were filled with moving from one camp to another, and emphasized that anyone who has experienced the bitterness of displacement fully understands the meaning of losing their homes and lands.
Mustafa called for a safe return to our areas. Enough displacement and living in camps.
Mustafa concluded his remarks by explaining that communication with his village had been cut off since the moment of displacement six years ago, and he was unaware of what was happening inside. He emphasized that the demand of all residents was for all camp residents to return to their homes and areas in safety and dignity.
Source: ANHA
مهجّرون تل أبيض/كري سبي: ست سنوات من المعاناة ومطلب واحد “العودة الآمنة”