Despite Turkish attacks and embargoes on the region, the self-governing areas of North and East  Syria are a refuge for countless people from the region. According to the Autonomous Administration, 1.1 million internally displaced persons live in North and East Syria. Thus, those seeking protection make up a large proportion of the population.

While Europe is brutally sealing itself off from a comparatively much smaller number of people seeking protection, the Autonomous Administration, despite its precarious situation, continues to declare that it will keep the doors open for people looking for shelter there. At the same time, it is also worried about organizing the safe return of refugees driven out of Syria worldwide.

"International silence on attacks leads to new waves of refugees"

The co-chair of the Office for Immigration and Refugees of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Şêxmûs Ehmed, told ANF: "We held talks with international organizations and presented our projects for the safe return of Syrian refugees. So far, they have not taken any action to create a mechanism that would make this possible. On the contrary, by remaining silent on the Turkish state's ongoing invasion attacks on the region, they are allowing new waves of internal migrants."

"We want to accommodate those seeking protection as safely as possible"

Ehmed said that in the last 12 years of the Syrian crisis, millions of people were forced to flee, and added: “During these long and difficult times, millions of Syrian citizens had to leave their country and emigrate to other countries. Many actors have exploited Syrian refugees for their own interests. The Autonomous Administration is doing extensive work to end this abuse and ensure that Syrian refugees are not exploited by colonialists and are housed as safely as possible.”

20 camps and shelters

Ehmed spoke about the accommodation provided for the refugees and said: “In our region there are 20 official camps for refugees and migrants as well as other smaller scattered facilities. In addition, those seeking protection are accommodated in some schools and houses in the cities. Around 1.1 million refugees from other regions of Syria such as Hama, Aleppo, Homs, Tadmur and Idlib live in our region. The Autonomous Administration treats them as their own citizens. We provide uninterrupted services to the camps where the refugees live.”

Reception and information offices were set up

The number of internally displaced persons coming to the region continues to be very high, Ehmed said, adding: “People come here because they see that human values such as dignity and their rights are protected in our regions. Many reception and information offices for Syrian refugees have been set up in our regions. There are also dozens of small camps set up by the refugees themselves. The North and East Syria region has always welcomed refugees and allowed them to live safely in accordance with international standards. The Administration has mobilized all its resources for refugees and migrants. In this context, there have been no violations of rights or other problems so far."

"The doors of the Autonomous Administration are open"

The Autonomous Administration is preparing comprehensive return projects for refugees who have been driven out of Syria worldwide. Ehmed said: "We are committed to ensuring that refugees from Syria are not exploited by the colonial powers and that they can return to their country as safely as possible. We have also started work on the return of refugees living in Lebanon. As we have already said, the doors of the Autonomous Administration are always open to refugees from Syria. The United Nations and the international community should support us so that these efforts can be implemented even faster and more comprehensively. Despite talks with the International Red Cross and other international organizations about the return of Syrian refugees, no mechanism has yet been put in place to allow this. The government in Damascus and the humanitarian organizations have not fulfilled their obligations to ensure the safe return of war refugees. Only our administration works in this sense."

“Attacks lead to new displacements”

Ehmed criticised the international community, saying: "The international powers did not support the projects developed by the Autonomous Administration for the refugees and did nothing against the Turkish state's invasion attacks on Rojava. These attacks are forcing hundreds of thousands more people to flee. By settling their own mercenaries in the occupied territories, the Turkish state has also brought about a demographic change in the region."