Ronida Haji

Hasakah — In 2018, the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries launched a large-scale attack on Afrin, using various military tactics and even chemical weapons. Yet, the people of Afrin and their fighters resisted for 58 days before the city fell, forcing thousands of families to flee toward Shahba. Over the course of seven years, residents there endured harsh conditions and continuous pressure, but they showed remarkable resilience despite Turkish attacks and the policies of the former Syrian regime.

In late 2024, the tragedy of Afrin’s displaced families in Shahba was repeated once again following military escalation in several Syrian regions on November 27. This was followed by the withdrawal of the former Syrian army on December 8 and the takeover of the country by jihadists from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. As a result, a new wave of displacement from Shahba began on January 2. On the first anniversary of this second displacement, women reaffirm their demand for a safe return to their land, insisting they want a free Afrin without occupation.

Hevin Alloush, one of the women displaced from Shahba, explained that the day the second displacement began was a dark and indescribably painful day, stressing that it was part of a plan aimed at erasing Kurdish identity. She added that the past year since their displacement from Shahba has been extremely difficult; they tried to turn Shahba into a “small Afrin” to ease their suffering, but their hope has always been tied to returning home and not reliving the tragedy of displacement again.

She also noted that “the Syrian Interim Government claims it is liberating Syria and keeps repeating this rhetoric, yet no tangible change has been seen on the ground. The fall of the former Syrian regime did not improve people’s lives. Displaced families are still far from their homes and unable to return. Where is the freedom they speak of? We are still living the tragedy of displacement.”

She affirmed that despite a full year in power, the interim government has achieved nothing that serves the interests of the Syrian people: “It operates according to an agenda that serves the Turkish occupation.” She pointed out that “individuals involved in spilling Syrian blood have reached positions of decision-making.”

She continued: “We, the people of Afrin, call on human rights organizations to grant us the right to return to our city, so that every displaced person can go back home. We are exhausted by displacement. We want the hope of return—something they keep trying to erase—to finally materialize. But we understand that it will be difficult, because we have built our will and become rightful owners of this land. Rights never disappear as long as someone continues to claim them and fight for them.”

For her part, Nazli Osu said the March 10 agreement carries special significance, affirming that “the right of return cannot be compromised, no matter the challenges or hardships, and we insist that this return must be safe.” She added that “the Turkish occupation remains on our land, preventing us from returning. We were forced out by violence, while attacks and violations across Syria continue.” She questioned: “How can we trust the Syrian Interim Government under these conditions?” stressing that their demand is for a safe return under the protection of their own military forces.

Redina Mohammed Shaheen emphasized that the situation of displaced children reflects the magnitude of suffering faced by everyone: “Displacement is one of the harshest forms of suffering, leaving deep impacts on the entire community and opening the door to further crises and problems.” She called for a safe return and appealed to humanitarian organizations to secure their right to go back home: “We are not asking for anything extra—this is our land, and it is our right to live on it.”