IDPs from northern Syria call on UN for safe, dignified return
AIN ISSA, Syria (North Press) – Tel Abyad IDPs’ Committee called on the international human rights organizations and the UN on Sunday to stop the violations of the Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), in their areas in northern Syria, and to secure return to their homes.
On October 9, 2019, the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions launched a military operation against the cities of Tel Abyad and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), northern Syria. The operation, named “Peace Spring”, led to the occupation of the two cities and their countryside, in addition to the displacement of more than 300.000 of the original inhabitants.
This came in a statement issued by the committee in Tel al-Samen camp north of Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria.
The committee stressed on that the SNA continues its violations against residents for the fourth year in a row.
The statement noted that the Turkish military operation has caused damage and destruction for their towns and villages, and displaced their residents.
“In this day three years ago, people of Tel Abyad, suffered the owes of forced displacement from their towns and villages in front of the whole world with no one to help,” the statement added.
The residents of Tel al-Samen camp suffer from dire humanitarian conditions, amid absence of relief organizations.
The statement refused the “policy of Turkification and demographic change implemented by Turkey,” and called for a Syrian dialogue pushing Turkey out of the Syrian territory.
Co-chair of Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Riyad Darar said ousting Turkey from Syrian lands needs an international consensus.
Darar added that the continued violations are contradictory to international law and does not respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
The SDC is the political wing of the SDF and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). It was founded in 2015 and includes all the communities of north and east Syria.