Shengal (Sinjar)- Since the Iraqi government announced in May that all IDPs camps would be closed down by July 30, 2024, the Yazidis, who were displaced by the genocidal attacks of ISIS started on August 3, 2014, have begun to return to their homeland, Shengal. The Autonomous Administration of Shengal continues to provide support to the Yazidis after they return to their homeland. However, the Iraqi government has not provided any support to the Yazidi people yet.

 The Yazidis, who have already returned to Shengal, told us that they were happy to return to their homeland. Til Ezer is one of the villages of Shengal most damaged in the genocidal attacks of ISIS. The Yazidis returning to the village are supported by the Autonomous Administration of Shengal to rebuild their houses. NuJINHA spoke to Maya Hecî and Seyran Silêman, two women who returned to the village after years.

‘All Yazidis living in the camps should return to their homeland’

Maya Hecî returned to Shengal after living in the Sharia camp located in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province. “We are happy to have returned to our homeland. Our homeland is better than all the camps and other places. All Yazidis living in the camps should return to their homeland. Yazidis struggle to survive in the camps. They should return to their homeland because Shengal is where our roots are.”

‘Our homeland is better than everywhere’

Seyran Silêman lived in the Dawudiya camp located in Duhok for many years after being displaced by the attacks of ISIS in 2014. Speaking about bad living conditions in the camp, she said, “Our homeland is better than everywhere. I call on all Yazidis living in the camps to return to their homeland. When we returned to our village, we saw that our house was completely burned down. All we want is to rebuild our house.”