Kurdish refugees from Sarkani report insecurity in returning to their homes after attack on return convoy

According to KurdPress, Kurdish refugees from Sarkani in northern and eastern Syria say that the attack on a return convoy of refugees in the city of Geri Spee on October 26 has increased concerns about the security of returning to their former areas of residence. The attack occurred while the process of returning refugees to Sarkani has also been halted and a number of displaced families are still worried about the uncertain status of their homes and properties. According to a report published by Insight International on November 2, the military attack by Turkey and its armed groups on the Sarkani and Geri Spee regions in 2019 displaced hundreds of thousands of residents, especially Kurds. Following the attack, Turkish-backed armed groups looted or seized many of the residents’ homes and properties, and some of these properties were given to resettled Arab families.

In the most recent case of violence against refugees, on October 26, a group of protesters attacked a convoy that was traveling to Geri Spee with the aim of returning Kurdish refugees. During the incident, more than 200 people were surrounded in an office building and their cars were set on fire. Security forces managed to rescue the people trapped in the building after about nine hours. Following this incident, the process of returning refugees to Sarkani has also been halted.