Over 12,000 IDPs in NE Syria return home since Assad’s fall
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – An official from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) told North Press on Thursday that more than 12,000 displaced people have returned to their areas of origin since the collapse of the al-Assad regime late 2024.
The returns are part of a broader plan to gradually empty displacement camps and promote voluntary return.
Sheikhmus Ahmad, co-chair of the Displaced Persons and Refugees Office of the AANES, said that 2,445 families, totaling 12,156 individuals, have left displacement camps since the AANES announced the opening of voluntary return on January 23.
According to data obtained by North Press, 119 families (474 individuals) returned to Aleppo and its countryside, as well as to Deir ez-Zor. Meanwhile, 714 families (3,907 people) departed from al-Arisha camp to Deir ez-Zor, and 884 families (3,997 individuals) left Abu Khashab camp for the same destination.
Additionally, 498 families (2,628 individuals) left Al-Mahmoudli camp, and 230 families (1,150 individuals) left Twaihina camp for various areas within Syria.
Ahmad noted that the Syrian transitional government has not demonstrated sufficient cooperation in facilitating the return of displaced persons, despite the AANES’ declared goal of fully clearing the camps of internally displaced Syrians by the end of this year.