ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than 100,000 people displaced from the Shahba region in northern Syria have returned to their homes from northeast Syria (Rojava), a local humanitarian official said on Friday.
Juma Kalo, a member of the Shahba Displaced Persons Committee, told Rudaw’s Nalin Hassan in an interview that negotiations with the Syrian government are ongoing regarding the return of remaining displaced residents from Shahba who are currently living in the Jazira region, which encompasses areas east of the Euphrates River, as well as Kobane.
“Over 100,000 families [from Shahba] have returned, perhaps even more. Previously, under Baath rule, they could not reach their homes, but after the regime's fall they have settled back,” Kalo said.
Thousands of people from the Afrin region sought refuge in Shahba after Turkey-backed forces captured Afrin in 2018. However, when fighting erupted across northern Syria in late 2024 amid the collapse of the Baath regime, many were forced to flee once again.
Many displaced families subsequently sought shelter in makeshift camps and converted public schools across Rojava.
Kalo said several factors continue to hinder the return of the remaining displaced families. Many homes were destroyed during the conflict, while essential services such as water, electricity, and other utilities remain limited in many villages.
He also cited security concerns, alleging that some returnees fear arrest, while others have reportedly been detained on political charges or faced ransom demands.
