KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – By the end of 2022, residents of the city of Kobani, northern Syria, hope that the New Year will bring stability and safety to their region away from the Turkish repeated attacks, and that the war the country has been suffering from since 2011 comes to an end.
58-year-old Waiso Othman, a resident of Kobani, wishes the New Year will bring stability and safety unlike previous ones.
“Since 2019 and as we are approaching 2023, we have not lived in peace due to Turkish threats, there is a daily bombardment, Turkey has not allowed Kobani people to enjoy comfort and peace,” Othman said.
The man hopes economic situation improves and the devaluating Syrian currency recovers.
Recently, the Syrian pound has fallen to unprecedented levels against foreign currencies, recording about 6.500 against the US dollar.
“The Syrian pound has devaluated due to increasing dollar’s exchange rate, we cannot secure our daily needs, we hope to find a solution for the region in 2023,” he added.
He hopes that countries interested in the Syrian issue do their best to find a political solution for the region.
“Conferences are held around the world continuously, they must find a solution for the Syrian people, Syrians have been suffering since 2011 until now,” Othman stressed.
The 52-year-old Sabah Khoja, another resident of Kobani, like Othman, wishes sufferings of people of Kobani end in 2023.
“We want a political situation so we can live a decent life,” she said.
Khoja stressed 2022 was too difficult in which many of Kobani’s residents emigrated due to the Turkish ongoing threats.
Since May this year, Turkish president has threatened to launch a ground operation against areas in northern Syria, particularly in Kobani, Manbij and Tel Rifaat.
Following Istanbul blast on Nov. 13 that the Turkish president blamed on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and People’s Protection Unites (YPG), claiming that they are offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched fierce attacks on northern Syria with warplanes, drones and artillery since Nov.20.
Khoja added, “Many of youths of the city immigrated to Europe, and many lost their lives either in sea or in forests, the situation during 2022 was extremely bad.”
She wishes that 2023 would bring peace and joy. She hopes a political solution is reached to end the Syrian crisis.
The 40-year-old Khaled Bekki, a resident of Kobani, hopes a political solution be reached to end the Syrian crisis and Syrians’ sufferings, a solution that will contribute to improve the economic situation.
“If a political solution is found for the Syrian people, it will contribute to improving the economic situation,” he said.
Bakki emphasized the need for ending the war and reaching a solution “because people have suffered a lot” and do not have the ability to stand this situation any more.