CAIRO
Syrians who have had to take refuge in neighboring countries due to the civil war in their country want peace in the new year.
While many countries of the world make preparations to welcome the new year, thousands of Syrians try to survive in tough winter conditions and tents away from their homes in neighboring countries of Syria.
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA) by phone, a Syrian activist Hamza Yusuf said that in the past they celebrated a new year happily.
"However, this year, we will enter a new year under the shadow of guns and weapons," Yusuf noted.
"There is no more a Santa Claus and decorated trees. The happy celebrations of new year in Syria have been replaced by death and devastation," Yusuf underlined.
Also speaking to the AA, the Commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Brigadier General Selim Idris stated that the Assad regime did not leave anything behind to celebrate.
"If we can free ourselves from the pressure of the Assad regime, we can celebrate the new year and our national day on the same date," Idris said.
"Syrians wait in bread queues with fear of getting killed by Assad's missiles," Idris also said.
