ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The first convoy of Kurdish displaced families left Washokani camp in Hasaka for Sari Kani in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Monday, marking the start of a process to end seven years of displacement.
"After 7 years of misery in these camps, reaching this day was a dream. We hope the file of the displaced will be completely closed, the camps will be eliminated, and everyone will return to their homelands to start a new life," Jwan Issa, a member of the Sari Kani internally displaced persons (IDP) committee, told Rudaw’s Viviyan Fetah.
The Kurdish-majority city of Sari Kani, also known in Arabic as Ras al-Ain, and its surrounding areas fell under the control of the Turkish army and Syrian armed opposition groups following an October 2019 military offensive that displaced tens of thousands of Kurdish, Arab, and other residents into camps like nearby Washokani.
The current return process stems from a January 29 landmark agreement reached between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian interim government wich followed weeks of intense fighting. The deal established a permanent ceasefire and set out the gradual integration of military, security, and civil administrative institutions in Rojava into the Syrian state.
It also outlined measures to facilitate the safe return of displaced people to their hometowns.
One of the displaced residents preparing to return to Sari Kani spoke to Rudaw with tears in their eyes, describing the journey home as a deeply emotional moment.
“I feel as if I have been born again,” they said. “The day we left Sari Kani was a black day, but today is a white day for us. People have longed to return to that sacred land. I even saw a picture of a child who was born far from their homeland saying they wanted to return and see the soil of Sari Kani, because the pain of Sari Kani has remained in their heart.”
However, others expressed concern over housing after their homes were occupied for seven years. Issa said the committee is working to address the issue.
"Through the committee that has been formed, we are in constant contact. I am confident that in the near future, the houses will be completely evacuated, and those who came after 2019 will be expelled," Issa said, noting that “in the near future, the houses will be completely evacuated."
Out of 647 registered families, 410 began their journey on Monday, while the rest are scheduled for future convoys due to health problems and education affiars of their children.
The Syrian transitional government is providing $10,000 to each returning family for home renovations, an increase from the initially planned $1,000 following local protests, and is covering all transportation costs.
Rojava Internal Security Forces and General Security forces of the Syrian government are escorting the convoy to the city center and surrounding villages to ensure the safety of the returnees. Local officials confirmed that the process of expelling individuals who settled in the empty homes after 2019 has already begun.
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