Amid freezing temperatures and schools converted into emergency shelters, harrowing testimonies have emerged from the city of Qamishli in Rojava (Syria), where displaced families sought refuge after fleeing recent hostilities, carrying accounts of forced displacement and grave violations against civilians during escape routes.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the conditions of displaced persons and survivors through field testimonies reflecting the scale of the humanitarian crisis, including incidents of summary execution and looting along displacement routes.
(H. D.), a displaced woman from the city of Afrin, described the ordeal her family endured while attempting to flee, stating:
“We fled under shelling from the city of Raqqa with my family. When we reached the Abyad–Abyad road, our vehicles were stopped by an armed group. At first, we thought they were Kurdish forces, but when the driver greeted them using the word ‘Heval’—a Kurdish word meaning ‘friend’ or ‘comrade’—he was immediately executed by gunfire. After they asked whether the driver was related to us and we said no, they looted our money and gold jewelry and left us exposed.”
She added:
“We continued walking for long distances with children under the rain until we managed to reach al-Hasakah and then Qamishli.”
She concluded:
“We demand accountability for those who committed crimes against civilians, an end to military operations, and protection for civilians.”
In another testimony, (A. A.) told the Observatory:
“We were displaced from the Sere Kaniye camp and are now living in schools in Qamishli. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic due to the freezing cold, with no heating or basic necessities. This is the second time we have been displaced due to attacks by factions loyal to the Turkish and Syrian governments. We demand an end to military operations, a safe return, and the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid.”
In a further testimony, (B. K.) stated:
“We were displaced from the city of al-Tabqa following an attack by the Syrian government. We were already displaced from Afrin. We endured extremely harsh hours moving under shelling and clashes. Upon reaching Qamishli, we slept in the streets with our children in freezing temperatures before being transferred to schools lacking even the most basic living conditions. We demand an end to military operations.”
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