Kurdish journalist urges Coalition and KNC to take responsibility and provide guarantees for Afrin residents

Welat TV - Erbil
Journalist Shiyar Khalil has warned of dire conditions in the Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods over the past three days, with an influx of displaced people from Tel Rif’at. He noted that people were struggling to make decisions in the absence of official guidance.

In an interview with Welat TV on Monday 2 December, Khalil highlighted the growing anxiety among residents who are torn between moving to Afrin or heading to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-controlled areas in Syrian Kurdistan and Eastern Euphrates. He stressed that many of the original residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya are unwilling to leave their homes and properties despite the escalating threats to their safety.

First convoy to leave Sheikh Maqsoud

As the first convoy of SDF forces left Sheikh Maqsoud, leaving residents to face an uncertain fate, Khalil stressed that the responsibility for protecting these people lies with the Kurdish National Council (KNC) as part of the Syrian opposition coalition. He suggested that the ENKS could form coordination bodies with local fighting forces, engage with residents and provide reassurances. Most civilians in these neighborhoods, Khalil noted, are not affiliated with the SDF administration and are reluctant to leave their homes. He called for guarantees to ensure their safety, especially in light of the ongoing violations in Afrin.

Shahba camps emptied
Khalil reported that tens of thousands of residents had fled the Shahba camps, leaving the area empty as of yesterday. He predicted that no one would remain in Tel Rif’at or Shahba due to the control of these areas by factions such as the Syrian National Army and the 'Al-Amshat' group, which have a history of violations against Kurds in Afrin. Khalil added that if Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had taken control, the population might have stayed, as HTS has not targeted Kurds.

The fate of the stranded
Khalil suggested the formation of an official committee to clarify the options for displaced people and provide guarantees for their safe return to Afrin. He warned that the significant demographic changes in Afrin and the displacement of its population towards the eastern Euphrates would further complicate the situation.

Despite the challenges, Khalil expressed optimism that conditions in Afrin could improve as part of the evolving dynamics in the region, potentially allowing displaced people to return to their homes.

Are calls to return to Afrin being heard?
Khalil stressed that media appeals alone are not enough. He called on leaders of the Syrian Opposition Coalition and KNC representatives to be present on the ground, engaging with residents and offering both material and moral support. He also urged Kurdish political parties to fulfil their responsibilities, similar to how armed opposition groups have worked to present a positive image by supporting Christian minorities and providing guarantees for their protection.

On Monday, 2 December 2024, the Kurdish National Council in Syria issued a statement calling on Kurds in Aleppo and Shahba regions to remain in their homes and resist fear campaigns aimed at displacing them under the pretext of genocide or other threats.

The Council's statement stressed that threats of demographic change only serve agendas aimed at weakening the Kurdish presence in their historical territories.