(MENAFN- The Peninsula) They acknowledge the risk of further violence, fear jihadists could seek to retake their home town and worry their possessions have been destroyed.
But the moment the fighting stopped, many refugees from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad could think of nothing other than going home.
Syrian Kurdish-led forces took full control of Tal Abyad on Tuesday after several days of intense fighting with Islamic State (IS) jihadists, which sparked an exodus of more than 23,000 refugees into neighbouring Turkey.
But scores of women, elderly people and children carrying their possessions crossed back into Syria through the Turkish border post of Akcakale on Wednesday.
Some flashed the V-sign to journalists trying to film their return under the watchful eye of the police.
Many say they wanted to be home for the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which starts this week.
"It's not so good here... It's not like home," 40-year-old farmer Mahmud said, carrying a sack on his head.
"We want to spend our holy Ramadan in our homeland. We have been looking forward to it," he said, adding that he decided to return after speaking to his brother in Tal Abyad who said life has gone back to normal.
"In my haste I left the water pump running and I wonder what happened to my agriculture equipment which is worth thousands of dollars," he said with a worried expression.
Ahmed el-Badran, who said he just turned 90, complained he was bitter about having his birthday far from his home, which he left with his sons and grandchildren four days ago.
"Maybe it would have been better for me to stay in my village, despite what was happening there.
"But my children didn't let me stay behind," said Badran, who has been ill since his arrival in Akcakale.
"I was afraid of dying far from my land, but thank goodness I'm returning now," he said as his children carried him on a cart.
"As soon as I learnt that I could return home, I felt better. No words can describe how it feels."
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