AANES states that Turkish state attacks lead to new forced migrations

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) stated that around 1 million 100 thousand Syrian refugees are living in its region and that its doors are open to other Syrian refugees. In an interview with Firat News Agency (ANF), Şêxmûs Ehmed, Co-Chairperson of the Office for Migrant and Refugee Affairs of the AANES, declared that they are carrying out comprehensive studies and preparing projects to solve the Syrian refugee problem. The Autonomous Administration has held talks with international organizations and presented its projects for the safe return of Syrian refugees to their lands. So far, Ehmed said, no mechanism has been put in place to realize these projects: “On the contrary, they have remained silent on the Turkish state’s ongoing invasive attacks on the region, causing new waves of migration.”

Speaking to ANF, Ehmed pointed out that the Syrian crisis and war has been going on for more than 12 years and said: “In this long and difficult process, millions of Syrian citizens had to leave their lands and migrate to other countries. Many powers have used Syrian refugees for their own interests. As the Autonomous Administration, we are carrying out extensive work to put an end to this situation and to ensure that Syrian refugees are not used by colonizers and are positioned in the safest way possible.” Noting that more than one million citizens living in other parts of Syria are located in AANES, he said that there are 20 official refugee and migrant camps in the region.

Ehmed stated that citizens fleeing the Syrian crisis continue to arrive, adding that many liaison offices have been established and refugee camps have been opened in the region for Syrian refugees. There are also dozens of small camps set up by refugees. Ehmed continued as follows: “The regions of North and East Syria have always welcomed refugees and provided them a safe and secure place to live in accordance with international standards. AANES has mobilized all its resources for refugees and migrants. So far, there have been no violations of rights and no problems with refugees living in our regions.”

Ehmed also said that efforts have begun for the return of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, stressing that the United Nations and the international community should support the work to be carried out faster and more comprehensively. He stated that the international powers, rather than supporting the return of refugees, have caused new waves of migration, adding: “Instead of supporting the Autonomous Administration’s project for the return of refugees, foreign powers did not prevent the Turkish state’s invasion operations against Rojava, which caused hundreds of thousands of citizens to migrate. The Turkish state has also made a demographic change in the region by settling foreigners in the occupied territories”.