Afrin witnesses a significant wave of Kurdish IDPs returning after reconciliation agreements with the Syrian government

Recently, areas of Afrin and northern Aleppo have witnessed a noticeable return of Kurdish IDPs to their homes, amid improved security conditions and the availability of safe return guarantees, following recent agreements between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

This step came after the signing of the March 10 agreement between Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, which stipulated the "integration of all civilian and military institutions affiliated with the Kurdish self-administration into the Syrian state administration," and included a provision ensuring the "return of all Syrian IDPs to their villages and towns and providing them with state protection."

The implementation of the agreements of Heyi Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, signed between Damascus and the SDF in early April, also contributed to boosting the confidence of IDPs and encouraging them to return in larger numbers than before.

According to the local newspaper "Al-Watan," local sources in Afrin and its countryside confirmed that the Syrian authorities have significantly facilitated the return process, encouraging hundreds of families to return and settle permanently after about seven years of displacement, following the control of Turkish-backed National Army factions over the region in March 2018.

The sources noted that some villages in the Mabata district recorded the return of more than 90% of their residents, while the percentage ranged around 80% in Jandaris and about 70% in Sheikh Hadid. The sources also observed a continuous increase in the return of IDPs to the city of Afrin during the past month, especially with the return of some Arab families that had previously fled to it escaping security conditions, to their original areas for reconstruction.

In a related context, the Syrian authorities have begun practical steps to integrate Afrin's administrative and service institutions into the structure of Aleppo Governorate, similar to other areas in northern Aleppo such as Azaz, in order to improve services provided to citizens.

In this regard, an extensive meeting was held last Wednesday in Afrin with the attendance of the deputy governor of Aleppo and the city council president, as well as representatives of local councils and service directorates, to discuss effective administrative integration mechanisms and enhance the efficiency of public services, including integrating technical and administrative staff within the government structure.

Sources expect an increase in the number of returnees in the coming period, as security and service conditions in the country continue to improve.