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War-Displaced Syrians Return Home as They Now Flee the Coronavirus

HeadlineApr 13, 2020

In Syria, thousands of people displaced by fighting in Idlib province have begun moving back into their homes, hoping a tentative ceasefire remains in effect. About 1 million people have fled a Russian-backed, Syrian government offensive over the past year to crowded camps near the Turkish border. One man who recently returned home said his family feared the spread of disease more than bombs and mortars.

Zakaria Sawish: “The living spaces are overcrowded. There’s been a lot of displacement recently, from Saraqib, from the Maara, from Ariha, so the camps became very crowded. We grew worried of diseases, so we decided to come back to our town, thank God. We pray that we are safe here.”

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