Thousands of Assyrians in Tal Tamer fear of a Turkish genocide
Tal Tamr – North-Press Agency
Reem Chamoun – Charbel Hanno
The official of the Assyrian Democratic Party Shamoun Kaku in the town of Tal Tamr, northeastern Syria, has confirmed to North-Press that the number of Assyrians has significantly decreased in the region due to the Islamic State (ISIS) attack in 2015, and by the ongoing military invasion by the Turkish military and its affiliated armed groups, stressing that the Assyrian component clings to the land on which they live.
Shamoun Kaku said that the number of the Assyrians in Tal Tamr and al-Khabour Basin was about 20 thousand people before ISIS attack on the region in 2015, confirming the displacement of more than 90 per cent of the Assyrian component from al-Jazira region, northeastern Syria.
Mr. Kaku pointed out that the number of villages inhabited by the Assyrian population was 33 villages, 10 of which have become completely empty since 2015, while more than 1,300 people are still present in the other 23 villages in Tal Tamr countryside.
According to Kaku, the wave of displacement returned with the start of the Turkish military invasion in northeastern Syria, which he called "The Devastation Spring for the Assyrians.”
He explained that he called the Turkish military vehicles as "Devastation Spring" because of the state of panic and fear experienced by the remaining Assyrians in al-Khabour basin and Tal Tamr, he said: "They live in panic and fear because of the constant threat of another displacement and genocide.”
Mr. Kaku urged the Assyrians to stay in their villages and towns and to stick to their land, noting that they intend to keep their office open for 24 hours at the aim of spreading safety and security among the Assyrians, noting that they provide relief assistance in cooperation with the Assyrian Charitable Society and the Assyrian Relief and Development Association.
It is noteworthy that the Assyrian people in Tal Tamr are still remaining in their villages and live on aid from various relief associations, in addition to the assistance provided by their relatives abroad, while the Turkish military and its affiliated armed opposition groups are still on the outskirts of the town of Tal Tamr, threatening the lives of the remaining components in the region.