After seven years of waiting, the first convoy of evacuees returns to Sri Lanka

The first convoy of Sree Kanhe displaced persons departed from the Washokani camp in Hasakah, on Monday morning (10 August 2026) returning to their ancestral homes. This return ends 7 years of displacement and difficult life inside the camp tents, and is considered the beginning of the complete distortion of the displacement file of that area.

According to information from Vivian Fatah, a correspondent of the Rudao Media Network who was present inside the camp, the names of 647 families were registered for return in this first convoy, but only 410 families were able to start the return journey; the remaining families in the coming convoys are scheduled to return due to illness or problems related to their children's schooling.

As an incentive to start a new life, the Syrian interim government granted $2,000 to each returning family to enable them to rebuild their homes destroyed or damaged during the war.

Initially, only $1,000 was scheduled to be given to families, but after a protest by the residents of Siri Kanet, the amount was increased with the efforts of the governor of Hasakah. In addition, the government covered the full costs of transport, including buses and even fuel for private cars.

"After 7 years of suffering in these camps, reaching this day has been a dream. We hope that the displacement file will be closed completely, the camps removed, and everyone will return to their homes to start a new life".

"The day we left Sir Canay was a dark day"