QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Rodi Mousa, a driver who was displaced from Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) by the Turkish invasion last year, stands under the shadow of a tattered sign that bears the name of his hometown in a travelers’ terminal in the city of Qamishli, northeast Syria.
The terminal for the passengers heading towards Sere Kaniye and its countryside has been empty for over a year, even if it is full with those who want to travel to different parts of the Jazira region.
Though there are 28 transportation microbuses that transport people on the Sere Kaniye-Qamishli line; however, they have not headed towards Sere Kaniye since Turkish-backed armed opposition groups took control of the city in late 2019.
Mousa travelled on this line for a decade, transferring tens of thousands of passengers between Qamishli and Sere Kaniye.
As if they were family
As the driver went to buy a sandwich, he came across someone from his city who used to travel with him. This time, he was heading towards Amuda, and the driver went back to his work on the Qamishli-Hasakah line.
A nostalgic smile spreads across the driver’s face as he sees the people of his city and talks with them, asking about their situations and their jobs. The 40-year-old driver likens meeting with someone from Sere Kaniye to seeing his brother or son, and said, “The tenderness of Sere Kaniye pushes us to that; we like each other more than before.”
The central or Siyahi terminal in Qamishli includes parks for microbuses transporting people to Amuda, Hasakah, Tirbespi, and other cities in Jazira.
Meanwhile the scene in the right corner, where the name of Sere Kaniye was written, has changed. Years ago, the microbuses were lined up one by one like beads on a rosary. Unlike the other terminals, there is no more laughter, no more jokes, and no more disputes between drivers and passengers in the abandoned Sere Kaniye terminal.
Even the travelers who used to wait in this corner rarely pay attention to it, despite their regular visits to the garage, and the seats in the terminal remain empty.
Bought my own possessions from the thief
The people of Sere Kaniye are afraid to return to their houses, fearing violations and crimes committed by Turkish-backed armed opposition groups.
Mousa has changed the light on his microbus, which used to show the old route, replacing it with the Qamishli-Hasakah line lantern. Though he still has his old light, he thinks he will likely not need it. He has no hope of return to his former home.
“There is an international agreement to displace us so the return is so hard or impossible,” he told North Press.
Rodi and his family drove back to Sere Kaniye after the “ceasefire” agreement signed between the US and Turkey.
“Can you imagine buying your household items from the one who stole them for the price that he set? I bought my fridge, washing machine, and gas canister from settlers coming from Idlib,” he added.
The displaced driver remained in his city for two months; however, conditions under the occupation of Turkish forces and their auxiliary militias became unbearable, and he decided to move to Tel Tamr city, that was repeatedly shelled by Turkey.
“’Kurds are pigs.’ I heard this sentence daily, but my response was to keep silent, fearing detention or being killed,” he stated.
Uncompleted path
Although Mousa has not travelled on the Sere Kaniye line for over a year, sometimes he still drives the wrong way on his way to Hasakah.
“More than one time I drove to Haram Sheikho crossroad heading towards Sere Kaniye instead of turning around towards Hasakah. It was my suffering and longing for my town,” he added.
Last week, Mousa arrived at the Abu Rasin crossroads near Sere Kaniye. “I stood by the road to contemplate my way…the intimacy between us and the memories rushed to my head,” he said.
Mousa drives his microbus away, down his new route, leaving the Sere Kaniye terminal empty once more.