“Al-Hodoud” movie from cinema to reality | Eight families locked down at Um Al-Julud crossing

Syrian Observatory activists have confirmed that eight civilian families are locked down at Um Al-Julud crossing in north-eastern Aleppo which separates areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions from areas under the control of “Manbij Military Council”. Turkish-backed factions prevent the families from crossing into their areas, while “Manbij Military Council” forces do not allow these families to return to their areas again.

 

According to SOHR sources, the number of people of these families is 37 displaced people (25 children, seven women and five men) from Idlib province, exactly Marrat Al-Nu’man, Jarjnaz town and Deir Sharqi village. These families have been forced to leave their areas because of the recent military operations by Russian and regime forces, and headed to areas controlled by “Manbij Military Council”. When these people decided to return to their areas, the Turkish-backed factions refused to let them cross, so they have stayed in the open for three days. It is worth noting that the crossing is open for commercial traffic only.

 

This humanitarian crisis has recalled the movie of “Al-Hodoud” which was produced in 1984, in which the plot revolved around people locked down between the border of Arab states. Today, the plot is repeated on the ground 36 years after the movie’s production, but this time it takes place in Syria.

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, appeal to the Turkish authorities to exert pressure on their proxy factions to allow these families to return their province.

 

It is worth noting that this is not the first incident of its kind. SOHR sources reported previously that a large number of civilians were suffering from inhumane situation after being locked down in controlled areas of Manbij Military Council, regime forces and Turkish-backed factions which all closed their crossings for civilians in Manbij area and countryside, north-east of Aleppo.

 

SOHR sources confirmed that the crossings of Awn Al-Dadat, Al-Taiyah and others were open for commercial traffic only, where oil trucks and tankers carrying fuel and gasoline were allowed to cross.

 

At the same time, these crossings prevented civilians from crossing, leaving them staying in the open for days.

 

“The civilians were also prevented from entering the bodies of their relative in order to be buried in their hometown, which forced them to bury the dead in the place where they were locked down, while all powers turned a blind eye to the civilians’ appeals,” sources added.