- Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/TURKEY-REFUGEES Around 1,700 Syrians return to Kobani from Turkey
- Date: 27th February 2015
- Summary: MURSITPINAR, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SYRIANS WALKING TO THE CUSTOMS AREA TO CROSS INTO KOBANI VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAVING AS THEY ADVANCE TO BORDER GATE SYRIANS GATHERED AT POLICE CONTROL POINT / POLICE HELPING ELDERLY WOMAN POLICEMAN ASSISTING ELDERLY WOMAN WOMAN CARRYING BOY WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Kurdish) KOBANI RESIDENT, ZINO, SAYING: "We are re
- Embargoed: 14th March 2015 12:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA8O89M34IYJCL359YVHE9GVP51
- Story Text: Some 1,700 Syrians, who fled the battle between Kurdish rebels and Islamic State in their hometown Kobani, hit the roads to cross the border from Turkey to return home on Friday (February 27).
The border town was once home to 200,000 people, but was largely demolished by fighting as Kurdish defenders held off Islamists trying to overrun the area.
Turkish Disaster Management Agency officials said that with the latest batch of Syrians, the number of those returning to Kobani has touched 7,000 in the past 10 days.
On Friday, hundreds gathered at the border gate in the Turkish border town of Mursitpinar.
But many were uncertain of the future after nearly four months of fighting.
"We are returning to our village but we heard that it has been completely plundered. We came here with the clothes we are wearing to save our lives and we are returning exactly as we came. I don't know what we will do there," said Zino.
"I am scared. We have nothing left. We will lean against the wall and sit in an empty house," she said.
The Kurdish residents of Kobani drove out the insurgents in late January, with assistance from Iraqi peshmerga fighters and almost daily air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition.
Almost the entire population of Kobani fled across the border to Turkey to escape the fighting, some to refugee camps, others staying with family and friends or heading to Turkey's cities.
As they now return, their problems are far from over.
"They looted our businesses, our homes. I had a lot of goods in my store. They took everything. I have nothing left. They even took my belongings at home. I don't even have furniture. What will I do," Mohammed Ali said.
"I don't know what remains at home. I don't know if our house is demolished or if it is still there. We have been here for two months and I am tired. We are miserable. Let us go home and die on our land," Havva said.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Kurdish forces have regained control of at least 163 villages around Kobani.
But their progress had been slowed by renewed clashes to the west and southwest of the town. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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