In the areas occupied by Turkey in northern Syria, an arbitrary regime run by Islamist mercenaries prevails. The original population in the occupied zones lives in harsh conditions, and many people flee their homes to the northeastern Syrian autonomous region to escape oppression, violence, and poverty.

The Turkish state began occupying self-governing regions in northern Syria in 2017. Initially, with the support of militiamen from the so-called FSA ("Free Syrian Army"), for which Islamists from the Al-Nusra Front and "ISIS" were recruited, Jarablus, al-Bab and areas in Aleppo were occupied. This was followed in 2018 by the invasion of Afrin. The war crimes committed in the process are documented and widely known. Since Turkey was not sanctioned in any way for this, Girê Spî (Tal Abyad) and Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ain) were occupied in 2019.

On Thursday morning, four families from the south of Girê Spî managed to escape into the autonomous region. The escape of the total of 24 people was organized by the military council of Girê Spî and the security forces of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. In the western part of Ain Issa, the civilians were received by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and provided with the necessary supplies. Afterwards, the families were handed over to the care of the Ain Issa People's Council. Ain Issa was the seat of the autonomous administration until the Turkish invasion in the fall of 2019.

"We felt like prisoners"

One of the refugees is Casim El Mihemmed. He says that for the past two years, the families have fed mainly on bulgur: "At the beginning of the occupation, there was some support to give a good impression. After two months, the assistance stopped completely. In the last seven months, we actually had nothing. The occupiers broke everything. Last year we still had wheat, but this year there was nothing left. On the way here we were very afraid that something would happen to us. But we arrived and we thank everyone who helped us. Since our arrival we are relaxed. It was like being in prison there. We felt like prisoners. Today the prison gates have opened and we are free."

"We couldn't stand the hunger and oppression anymore"

Şehe El Ubêt says they fled hunger and oppression: "We had no diesel and no more basic goods. We cooked our food on the open fire. Our animals even had nothing to eat. The village was like a prison, we were not allowed to leave it. Therefore, our supplies were completely used up. We could no longer bear the hunger and oppression. When we had to leave our houses and land, we cried a lot. However, we had no other choice. Now we are happy that we made it."

"Many people want to flee from the occupied territories"

In Ain Issa, the families who have fled are being cared for. Şîrî Ebîd is a member of the local civil council and has received the families from Girê Spî. "As a civil council, we will provide the necessary support. After all, these families are not the only ones; there are many people from the civilian population who want to flee to us. We are trying to help them do so within our means."

Osman Şahin from the Girê Spî Military Council says, "We continue to have contact with the civilian population in Girê Spî. Today we got these families out of there together with the Asayîş (Local Public Security Forces). They have been living in difficult conditions and resisting cruel oppression by the Turkish state and its gangs for a long time. We are very happy that we were able to get them out. We will continue our efforts because there are many more people who want to come."