Thousands of Displaced Families Return to Afrin Amid ENKS Efforts
Ahmed Hassan, a leading figure in the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS), announced that over 4,000 displaced families have returned to Afrin since the council initiated efforts to support their return. The city, located in Syrian Kurdistan, experienced mass displacement in 2018 due to intense fighting and Turkish military operations.
Speaking to BasNews on Saturday, Hassan recounted the challenges faced by Afrin's residents during the displacement and highlighted the ENKS’s dedication to facilitating their return. "We called for the people to return to their homeland, the place of their ancestors," he stated, emphasizing the importance of preserving the region’s cultural and demographic identity.
To assist returning families, the ENKS provided free transportation for their belongings and launched initiatives aimed at reversing demographic changes in the region. Despite these efforts, Hassan noted that the majority of the returning families are Arab rather than Kurdish, a reflection of Afrin’s evolving demographics since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The return process has been bolstered by improved conditions in Afrin, with more freedom and fewer barriers for returnees. However, Hassan expressed concerns about the ongoing detention of Afrin residents. "Many people from Afrin, including those who have committed no crimes, remain imprisoned without explanation," he said, urging their immediate release to allow them to reunite with their families.
Despite economic hardships in the region, Hassan acknowledged a growing sense of relief among returnees, who no longer face additional charges for reclaiming their homes. "People's livelihoods are bad, but they are relieved that they can come back without facing further obstacles," he added.
The ENKS’s efforts to support the displaced families of Afrin underscore its broader campaign for stability and the preservation of Kurdish identity in Syrian Kurdistan. The council remains committed to assisting refugees in returning to their ancestral lands and rebuilding their lives in Afrin.
