Dire situation for Afrin's displaced in Tabqa between hunger, cold and appeals to return home
Welat TV – Erbil
In yet another chapter of forced displacement, Afrin’s displaced population in Tabqa faces harsh living conditions and daily hardships. Deprived of basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care, their suffering is further compounded by freezing temperatures.
Their plea echoes loud: “Enough… Let us return to our homes.”
New Exodus to Tabqa: Scarcity of Water and Food
Following the displacement of part of Afrin’s population from Tell Rif’at to the Raqqa and Tabqa regions, these displaced individuals now endure catastrophic conditions. With no access to clean water, food, or healthcare, they rely on makeshift fires to stay warm amidst the biting cold, their bodies worn down by hunger and adversity.
A Call to the International Community: “Enough… We Are Exhausted!”
One displaced woman from Afrin made an emotional appeal to the international community, saying: "Our situation is dire; an entire people have been lost. We want peace and for everyone to return to their homes. The great powers—America, Russia, Germany, and France—must step in to end this war. Enough… enough… enough. We are exhausted.
Children and the elderly have died along the way. We have been displaced three times—from Afrin, Aleppo, and Shahba, and now here. We don’t know where they will take us next."
Lack of Shelter: Cold Nights Under Open Skies
Many displaced families remain without shelter, spending nights exposed to the elements without tents to shield them from the cold. While some families have been accommodated in a school in Tabqa, the facility lacks adequate heating and food supplies, exacerbating their already dire circumstances.
Stories of Looting: “What Did We Do to Deserve This?”
Another Afrin woman recounted her suffering to Welat TV, describing the looting and destruction they endured: "They burned our olive trees, took our cars, and stole everything we had. They left us with nothing—no shelter, no care. We are paying the price for a war we have no part in. The international community must intervene to end this tragedy."
Fleeing into the Unknown:
“The Situation Is Terrible” An elderly man explained why he fled with his family, citing fears for their safety in increasingly dire circumstances.
The Cost of War: Displaced People Bear the Brunt
Earlier this week, armed opposition factions launched an offensive against SDF forces stationed in Tell Rif’at, resulting in an agreement for SDF forces to withdraw to Tabqa and Raqqa with their weapons. While some displaced individuals accompanied the withdrawing forces, others returned to Afrin.
Civilians remain the greatest victims of any armed conflict, shouldering the heavy burden of wars they did not choose, as their humanitarian crisis deepens with no clear resolution in sight.