Sorkel Sheikhou

Tel Tamr — In the final months of 2019, the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries launched a brutal attack that led to the displacement of more than 150,000 families from Sere Kaniye / Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi / Tel Abyad. After seven years of displacement, hopes for return remain alive, especially after the signed agreements.

The agreement reached on January 29 between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian interim government included provisions regarding the safe return of the displaced. Efforts are still ongoing in this regard. But the displaced, who can no longer bear the bitterness of displacement, are trying despite the dangers to reach their villages to see what has happened, and they do not hide their shock at the destruction they witness, which has affected everything. This destruction constitutes a war crime under international law, and those responsible are supposed to be held accountable before international courts.

Fakhriya Hussein is one of the displaced women from the village of Huweisha, located between Sere Kaniye / Ras al-Ain and Tel Tamr. She has not been able to return, but some of her relatives who managed to reach the village documented the destruction of her house with photos and videos.

She says that during the seven years of displacement, she has not been able to see her house or even a picture of it, and she was shocked by what she saw in the images. "We could not approach our village, not even take a handful of soil from our land. But what is harder is how we left our home, and how we saw its destruction in the images that reached us. We were shocked and remained bewildered, because many of those who longed to see their village passed away without their wishes being fulfilled."

She explained that she recognized her destroyed house by the letter "R" that was written on the wall before the displacement, because all the destroyed houses look alike, without doors or windows, making it difficult to distinguish them from one another.

She pointed out that, like other displaced people, she fears returning at present. "There is still danger, and no safety. The lands of our villages are full of landmines. In this situation, return is difficult. Until the main roads are opened and movement is secured, it will not be possible to achieve safety and return."

Fakhriya Hussein called on the Syrian Democratic Forces and the interim government to expedite the processing of the file for the return of the displaced from Ras al-Ain / Sere Kaniye. "Just as we were displaced collectively, our return must also be collective and with guarantees. Our rights must not be violated. Unless security is provided, we cannot return on our own. We have waited 7 years for a dignified and safe return."

She added that all their agricultural equipment, water tanks, and electric generators have been stolen, leaving only empty land. But she promises to start over. "We will raise sheep and chickens again, and we will bring life back to the village. We spent 50 years of our lives there, and we want to spend the rest of our lives in our village. Even if a hundred years pass since the displacement, we will return one day."

Fakhriya Hussein said that she wants to return to her village so that she can answer her children's questions. Her children were born after the displacement, and they stand bewildered whenever the village is mentioned.