20,000 Kurdish families returned to Afrin since Assad’s fall – Official
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – Masoud Battal, an official of the Syrian transitional government responsible for the Kurdish-region of Afrin in northwestern Syria, said on Thursday that nearly 20,000 families have returned to the city and its surrounding countryside since the fall of the al-Assad regime.
In an exclusive statement to North Press, Battal said that the local administration in Afrin continues to provide essential services and secure basic living needs for returnees.
He noted that approximately 80 percent of residential villages and displacement camps in Afrin’s districts are now nearly empty, as most displaced families have returned to their original areas across Syria.
Afrin, a predominantly Kurdish region in northwest Syria known for its olive production and relative stability during the early years of the Syrian conflict, was captured by Turkish forces and their affiliated Syrian factions during Operation Olive Branch in 2018.
The offensive displaced tens of thousands of Kurds, most of whom fled to the nearby Shahba region and other parts of northern Syria. Since then, widespread human rights violations, property seizures, and demographic changes have been documented in Afrin under the control of Turkish-backed factions.
Despite limited returns in recent years, many displaced residents remain unable or unwilling to go back due to insecurity, economic hardship, and administrative obstacles, while locals stress that the city’s revival depends on the return of its original inhabitants.
However, over the years, numerous human rights reports have documented widespread violations, including the destruction and looting of natural resources and the burning, cutting, and theft of nearly two million olive trees.
Local farmers and olive oil mill owners have repeatedly complained about taxes and levies imposed by SNA factions during olive harvest seasons.
Regarding property restoration, Battal said that ongoing efforts aim to rehabilitate damaged homes and agricultural lands. In Rajo district, 180 homes and 20,000 olive trees have been returned to their owners, while in Sharran district, 30 homes and 4,000 olive trees were restored. Mabata district, he added, has seen the reopening of olive oil mills and the restoration of 29 homes and 3,500 olive trees.
Battal emphasized that addressing the plight of displaced people has been a top priority for the Syrian transitional government from the beginning, supported by its official institutions.
He affirmed that efforts will continue to accelerate returns and promote long-term stability for Afrin’s residents.