Bêrîtan Elyakut-Cahide Harputlu/JINHA

KOBANÊ – Children of Kobanê, forced to abandon their homes and schools by Daesh attacks in September, are now returning and taking part in the effort to make life blossom among the ruins of the city.

The heavy Daesh assault launched on September 15, 2014 drove thousands of Kobanê natives from their homes. Although the city center was liberated on January 26 of this year, YPG/YPJ fighters are still engaged in bloody battles over the villages on the outskirts of the city.

"We returned to our homeland and even if we die here, we'll die happy. There's no place like home," said a Kobanê woman, who is working to rebuild her home here, although she faces the limitation of generators that only work during certain hours. Not just electricity but food is a constant problem here, where bakeries struggle to meet the city's growing need for bread with stocks that are dwindling because neighboring Turkey still refuses to open a humanitarian corridor in the city.

This is the context to which thousands of Kobanê children have returned, to run and play in streets still dotted with the unexploded mortars and mines left behind by Daesh.

The effect of war on thesechildren is visible even in their manner of greeting. "Hello, comrade, how are you?" they ask, shaking visitors' hands like adults. They say they want to "grow up quickly," and often wear clothes imitating the YPG/YPJ fighters.

Children typically greet the YPG/YPJ fighters passing among them with cries of "long live the YPG/YPJ resistance." The fighters greet the children, smiling, and go on their way. They say children often come to their positions, asking when they can volunteer. The fighters, trying not to hurt the children's feelings, tell them, "When you grow up a bit more, you can help protect Kobanê, too," and send them away.

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