Resettled Arabs Attack Kurdish IDPs in Serê Kaniyê
The committee said it was closely monitoring the consequences of the violations and held the authorities in Damascus, including the Syrian presidency, as well as Serê Kaniyê’s security forces and local administration, fully responsible for the incidents.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Resettled Arabs in Serê Kaniyê assaulted Kurdish Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who returned to their hometown on Monday as part of the first organized convoy of returnees, according to the Serê Kaniyê Displaced Persons Committee.
Several members of the returning group were subjected to attacks after arriving in the city, prompting the committee to issue an urgent statement condemning the security incidents.
The committee said it was closely monitoring the consequences of the violations and held the authorities in Damascus, including the Syrian presidency, as well as Serê Kaniyê’s security forces and local administration, fully responsible for the incidents.
It said the attacks constituted a clear violation of the provisions of the January 29 agreement concerning the return of displaced people.
The committee called on security forces to immediately restore security, protect the lives of returnees and launch a prompt investigation to identify, pursue and arrest those responsible.
The first convoy, carrying around 650 Kurdish families, began its journey from Hasakah on Monday, marking a major step in efforts to return residents displaced from Serê Kaniyê seven years ago.
Families gathered with their belongings before setting out for the city, where many were forced to leave their homes in 2019. The return is being coordinated by the Serê Kaniyê Displaced Persons Committee in cooperation with humanitarian and security organizations, including the Kurdish Red Crescent and local Internal Security Forces.
The convoy is seen as an early test of whether a broader and sustained return of displaced residents can take place.
The unresolved status of homes and land remains one of the main challenges facing the return of displaced families.
The Serê Kaniyê Displaced Persons Committee said it remained in contact with all relevant parties to monitor developments and take measures to maintain stability and protect returning residents. It said it was also examining the reported attacks to ensure the safety of families seeking to return to their homes.