Human Rights Watch report exposes dire conditions faced by Syrians in Turkish-occupied Tel Abyad

TEL ABYAD, Syria — In a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Tel Abyad (Girê Spî), a district in northern Syria under Turkish control, has been highlighted. The report challenges Turkey’s narrative of a “safe zone” in the region, revealing severe conditions faced by Syrians deported there.

Published on Thursday, the HRW report unveils disturbing realities behind Turkey’s claimed “voluntary returns.” Adam Coogle, HRW’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized that many returns are coerced, with deportees subjected to perilous journeys to escape Tel Abyad’s dire circumstances.

The report highlights a significant uptick in the number of Syrians deported to Tel Abyad from January to June 2023, with Turkish forces accused of forcing Syrians to sign “voluntary” return forms since 2017. Discrepancies in official Turkish data on returns were also noted, raising concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding these actions.

Despite Turkey’s aspirations to establish so-called “safe zones” in northern Syria, HRW’s investigation sheds light on documented human rights abuses and potential war crimes in these areas. Deportees interviewed by HRW recounted experiences of coercion and family separation, often finding themselves in a region devoid of livelihood opportunities or safe passage elsewhere in Syria, resorting to reliance on smugglers.

Reports from aid workers corroborate the dire situation, with deportees in Tel Abyad struggling to meet basic needs and facing limited external assistance. The absence of international aid compounds the suffering of those trapped in the region, highlighting Turkey’s obligations as the occupying power under international law.