When ISIS attacked Mosul in 2014, thousands of Iraqis left their lands and migrated to the areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Migrants settled in the Hol Camp near Heseke city have been living with the hope of returning to their homes ever since. While 30,706 Iraqis stay in the Hol camp, nearly 30 thousand Iraqis live in the cities of the Cizire Canton. The Iraqi migrants called on the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Iraqi government to enable their return to their homes.

“UNTIL WHEN WE WILL STAY HERE?”

Abu Ehmed said that he wanted to return to his country. “We came here because of the war in Iraq. Here, too, we wake up every day to the sounds of artillery. Until when will we stay here? I lost my son from cancer here. He lost his life because I could not provide a treatment. International institutions did not lend a helping hand to us. Thanks to the camp management, I took my son to the Qamishlo Hospital. But we could not save him,” he said.

“IRAQI GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO ITS PART”

Lûey Murad, who migrated to the camp from Saladin governorate, emphasized that he wanted to return to his country from the camp where he had been staying for three years.

Ebdullah Mehmûd Mihemed (78) said: “The Iraqi government is doing nothing to get us back home. What is the fault of the women and children living here? Why wouldn’t they go back to their country?".

Hena Mihemed from Mosul, whose wife was killed in the war in Iraq, said that he wanted to return to his country with his 10 children and demanded that the Iraqi government do its part.

"THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE SERIOUS STEPS"

Speaking on the issue, Deputy Head of the North and East Syrian Autonomous Administration Foreign Relations Department, Fener El-Giêt said that Iraqi migrants suffered a lot from ISIS terrorism. Pointing out that approximately 30 thousand Iraqi citizens are staying in Hol Camp, El-Giêt said, “Not all of them are from ISIS. Most of them came here fleeing from the war in Iraq. Some are families of ISIS gangs. We did our best to assist the Iraqi delegation that came to meet with the Autonomous Administration. Since there was war in Iraq, Iraqi migrants did not want to return at first. Today, most of them want to return. We hope that the Iraqi government will take more serious steps in this regard”.