By Dilsoz Youssef
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – After years of displacement and destruction caused by Turkish shelling, residents of Zirgan (Abu Rasin), a town in northeastern Syria, are beginning to return home following a ceasefire agreement. Despite widespread devastation and weak public services, the town’s remaining inhabitants are rebuilding their lives—one step at a time.
On the main road running through the town of Zirgan, stands Jamil al-Atiywi, a man in his fifties, in front of his small fruit and vegetable shop, reminiscing with sorrow about the days when his town was full of life—before shelling destroyed it and displaced its people.
Over the past years, shelling by the Turkish forces and affiliated armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), stationed on the outskirts of the town has caused widespread destruction, forcing most residents to flee. This came in the wake of Turkey’s takeover of the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), located about 35 kilometers west of Zirgan.
Economic stagnation
“After noon, the streets are almost deserted,” says al-Atiywi, observing the few passersby. “Most people were forced to flee because of Turkish shelling.”
Following the March 10 agreement between Mazloum Abdi, the Commander in Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, which included a ceasefire, life has begun to slowly return to the town.
Signs of destruction are clearly visible in the streets, along with a significant decline in population movement—especially in the western neighborhoods, which suffered the heaviest damage, including al-Atiywi’s home.
He tells North Press, “The roofs of most houses in our neighborhood collapsed, including my own, due to the shelling.”
Al-Atiywi, who has since moved to live in the eastern neighborhoods, recalls the night of the attack: “One winter night, as we sat chatting, a shell hit my home. We fled, and I wasn’t able to return until the next day. Since then, I have not gone back—the painful scene left a deep mark on us.”
“During the shelling, we had to hide indoors or in shelters. Sadly, it became a routine we grew used to,” he adds.
Despite the return of calm, the economic stagnation continues to weigh heavily on the remaining residents, clearly reflected in the weak market activity.
“Commercial activity has dropped by half,” says al-Atiywi. “The economic situation is extremely difficult. We used to live relatively comfortably—now, buying a single chicken once a week has become a challenge.”
Infrastructure destruction
Meanwhile, Ahmad Shtiwi (70), another resident of the town, estimates that around 30 percent of Zirgan has been damaged, pointing to the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure—especially the power grid, which is completely out of service, forcing residents to rely on diesel generators.
Half of the town’s population is still displaced, Shtiwi says. Some are living in camps, others in rented homes, because returning is not possible at the moment due to the lack of resources for repair or reconstruction, he adds.
Despite the harsh conditions, hope remains for continued calm and a return to normalcy, and for the displaced to go back to their homes.
As Zirgan begins to slowly recover, some public service institutions have resumed operations—albeit slowly—giving residents a glimmer of hope that the situation may improve in the near future.
Azaddin Abdo, a shop owner who fled to the nearby city of Derbasiyah, says he now visits Zirgan daily to check on his business. Trade activity is barely 25 percent of what it used to be before the shelling, he explains, and basic services like electricity and water are still nearly nonexistent.
“The shelling completely changed the town’s landscape,” he adds. “The streets are nearly empty, and many buildings are destroyed.”
Amid this painful reality, the town of Zarkan stands as a testament to the suffering inflicted by war—but also as a symbol of resilience. Despite destruction, displacement, and the collapse of services, a will to live still pulses among the ruins. Residents look forward to genuine support that can accelerate reconstruction and ensure the safe, dignified return of the displaced.