HÊVÎ EZDA

Shengal (Sinjar)- ISIS attacked Shengal on August 3, 2014, killed many Yazidis, displaced thousands and abducted thousands of women and sold them in slave markets. The Yazidis, who took shelter in the Sharia camp in Kurdistan Region’s Duhok city continue to return to their homeland, Shengal. Dozens of Yazidi families have already returned to Shengal’s Siba Sheikh Khidir village. They call on the Yazidis, who still stay in the camps to return to their homeland.

 ‘We are very happy’

Xalîde Sîba is one of the Yazidis, who have returned to the village. “Although our return journey was difficult, we are very happy to return to our homeland. We are told that dozens of Yazidi families have returned. We are six families. We stayed in the Bacîdê camp for five years and three years in the Sharia camp. Life was very difficult in the camps. We were affected by hot and cold weather because our tents burned down due to the fires that broke out in the Sharia camp. The conditions in the camp affected our children; we could not sleep comfortably and without fear. For this reason, we are very happy to have returned to our homeland,” Xalîde Sîba told us.

 Xalîde Sîba gave birth to her three children after being displaced from Siba Sheikh Khidir. “I gave birth to my three children in the camps. I faced many difficulties. I tried to teach my children our culture. I told them Shengal is beautiful. Now, they see how our homeland is beautiful.”

‘We will rebuild our lives’

Dayê Şemê is one of the women returned to their homeland from Sharia camp. She describes their return to their homeland as a rebirth for them. She said, “I am a member of the Mehmediyan tribe in Siba Sheikh Khidir. I am so happy to have returned to our homeland. Some of our family members still stay in the camp. I always dreamed of returning to our homeland. Although our houses were completely destroyed, I am so happy to have returned to my homeland. We will rebuild our lives here.”

 They will support the Yazidis

Leyal Şengalî came to Siba Sheikh Khidir to help the Yazidis. “We are very happy that our people, our relatives, have returned to their homeland. Since yesterday, we have made great efforts to prepare everything for them. We will support them to rebuild their lives. We want all Yazidi people to return to their homeland and have a happy and peaceful life,” Leyal Şengalî told NuJINHA.

Elmas Nayîf, Co-mayor of Siba Sheikh Khidir, talked about their preparations for the Yazidis, who return to the village. Noting that they are very happy because dozens of Yazidi families have returned to their homeland. “As the municipality, we cleaned their houses and provided drinking water for them. When they arrived in the village, we helped them to settle in the houses. We will do our best to help and support them so that they will rebuild a life here. The Iraqi government has done nothing for them until now.”

 All women we interviewed called on the displaced Yazidis to return to their homeland. They said, “We will rebuild our lives together. The return to the holy land of Yazidism is the most important and sacred step for the independence of Shengal.”