DERIK, Syria (North Press) – Standing in front of a window for completing papers for passengers, Sheikhmus Mustafa, looking pale, is in conversation with a staff member of the Semalka border crossing in the far northeastern Syria, the Faysh Khabur border crossing on the other side in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq (KRI).
Mustafa is about to finish his son’s departure paper hours before the border crossing closes completely by the KRI.
Although his son still had some time to spend with his family, he had to cut his visit short due to the border crossing’s closure. He left on Saturday for fear of not being allowed to cross the border.
Hundreds of travelers headed at night to the border crossing before being closed. The rain made goodbyes even worse.
10 days
Mustafa told North Press, “I haven’t seen my son for 8 years. He came on a leave for a month. He has 10 days left, but the crossing was closed.”
“It is a humanitarian gateway that must not be politicized,” he added.
Many passengers had to spend the night inside their cars near the border crossing, hoping to finish their papers faster. Meanwhile, others, carrying their luggage under the rain, rushed to a waiting hall at the border crossing on the Syrian side.
A woman, holding her children’s hands and standing in front of a departure bus, said furiously, “I left my dying father. I still have 20 days to leave.”
She added, barely holding back her tears, “Is this humane, after I paid so much money to get here.” Another one replied, “We are all suffering the same.”
Grief and sorrow was visible on the travellers’ faces after being forced to hastily return by the KRI’s Faysh Khabur decision to close the border crossing.
Passengers pushed each other in front of the offices at the border crossing. Meanwhile, some women sat on the ground with their children, who clearly showed signs of fatigue and weariness, especially those coming from far distances.
Mustafa addressed the two Kurdish parties on both sides of the border crossing, ” Why are they doing so? Thousands are rushing to leave…It is an unreasonable and unwise decision.”
The Semalka–Faysh Khabur is one of the most crucial border crossings for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), especially after the closure of al-Ya’rubiyah (Tel Kocher) border crossing in 2020 due to Russian-Chinese vetoes.
In July 2014, the UNSC adopted Resolution 2165 which authorized the UN to deliver cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria through four crossings al-Ramtha crossing with Jordan, Bab al-Salameh and Bab al-Hawa with Turkey, and Tel Kocher with Iraq, without the consent of the Syrian government.
In January 2020, UN Res. 2504 was adopted which reduced the number of border crossings to only Bab al-Salameh and Bab al-Hawa for six months open to renewal in a special meeting by the UNSC.
Rice and Cement
Abdulrazzaq Issa’s situation is not different from the others. He came to the border to say goodbye to his parents and called for the border crossing to remain open and to leave it out of political problems between the two parties.
“We demand both parties keep the crossing open, it is a humanitarian lifeline and a passage for refugees to reunite with their families,” he said.
He explained that many passengers came just two days ago, and now they have to return. “That’s unfair,” he added.
He noted that the closure of the border crossing would have a great impact on trade and food products’ price.
“A kilo of tomato costs 6,000 SYP, prices are getting expensive. Residents cannot bear this,” he added.
For now, there are no solutions in sight for the opening of the border crossing. Others were surfing online for developments on the border crossing so that they might hear new updates about the reopening.
On May 11, the management of the Faysh Kahbur sent a notice to the NGOs informing them that the crossing was closed until further notice. The management did not reveal the reasons for the closure.
Later on the same day, informed sources told North Press that the US mediated to reopen the border crossing, but failed to reach any results.
A US official operating within the US-led Global Coalition in Syria and Iraq warned of the deterioration of relations between the Kurds in Syria and Iraq as both Kurdish parties exchanged blame for the closure of the border crossing in the last few days.
Youssef Hussein, like so many, waits among the crowd to bid farewell to his relatives.
He warned with a hoarse voice that people will suffer the consequences of closing the border crossing.
Hussein added, “Closing the crossing will greatly harm the residents… both Kurdish parties are benefitting from the crossing.”
He stressed that the border crossing is a commercial outlet through which various goods enter, such as rice, sugar, cement, and iron.