By Muaz al-Hamad
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime at the end of 2024, the Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria, witnessed a new wave of displacement, as hundreds of families arrived coming from camps in Afrin region and the northern countryside of Aleppo (locally known as Shahba region). This came amid the lack of sufficient shelters and the inability of the displaced to rent houses.
This reality forced a number of families to seek refuge in schools, unfinished houses, or even to set up tents. Others chose to reside inside the Tartab military regiment, formerly affiliated with the al-Assad regime, in the southern countryside of Qamishli city—despite the dangers of the site and the near-total absence of basic services.
Suffering
Halima Youssef, a displaced woman from Afrin, told North Press, “I was displaced from Afrin in 2018, and we stayed in Shahba region for about seven years. After the fall of the regime, we headed directly to the Tartab regiment.”
“At first, electricity and water were acceptable, but after a few months, we began suffering from frequent power cuts and a lack of clean drinking water. We are forced to rely on unsafe water tankers.”
Youssef added that their repeated requests for services received no response. She noted, however, that the number of families at the regiment has dropped from around 92 to only 70 due to harsh living conditions and severe neglect.
She explained, “We live among scorpions and snakes, and we suffer frequent bites. There is no safety or protection—we stay awake all night guarding our children. Our only wish is to return to Afrin, because here nothing can replace our home and our land.”
Almost nonexistent services
Another displaced person from Afrin, Ali Abdo, who has been residing in the regiment for four months, described the situation as dire.
He told North Press, “In terms of water and electricity, the situation is relatively tolerable. But the real tragedy is the absence of medical points and schools, which has deprived our children of education. In addition, there are still weapons depots and chemical materials inside the regiment, posing a serious threat to our lives.”
Abdo confirmed that the lack of security has forced the displaced to organize their own night patrols. He added, “We hope the relevant parties will work on securing our return to our areas under international guarantees, because our situation here is disastrous, and the only solution is to go back to our homes.”
As for Samia Abdo, she noted to the worsening humanitarian conditions overall, telling North Press, “There is no regular water or electricity, no job opportunities, and the heat is unbearable without even the simplest cooling means. Due to poor sanitation, skin diseases have spread among the children, and every day our situation grows worse.”
Amid these harsh circumstances, the Tartab regiment remains a witness to yet another humanitarian tragedy for Afrin’s displaced, who find themselves caught between two bitter choices: staying in an uninhabitable environment or facing the unknown with no guarantees of returning to their homes.