Dozens of families who fled their homes due to fighting have returned to their villages in Sangin in Helmand province even though many houses have been reduced to ruins.

TOLOnews reporter Abdullah Hamim visited the district and interviewed the residents who are living in the now peaceful environment.

The main street of the district was once known as an especially bloody road for both combatants and civilians.

The Sangin district is well-known for the fierce fighting that occurred there over the past twenty years. 

More than half of the houses, markets and public areas were destroyed due to severe fighting that included heavy airstrikes.

“There were some checkpoints on this street. They were thinking that the Mujahideens (Islamic Emirate forces) would attack them,” said one resident.

Rahmatullah lost five members of his family, including his father and brothers, in an airstrike. Rahmatullah, who has recently returned to his village, said that he hopes for a permanent end to the war. 

“My brother, who (was injured) is alive now, laid here. My older brother fell down there in the water, when I pulled him back—he was dead by then,” he said.  

Rahmatullah is an example of the millions of Afghans who have been affected by the severe violence over the past two decades.  

The residents now experience a peaceful environment and they hope to live a normal and calm life free of violence in the future.

“The people have just started a new life, a new hope. They want to work. Thousands of people were martyred here,” said Serajuddin, a resident. 

“We have lost all the houses and buildings that were built,” said Amid, a resident. 

Many residents in Sangin are relying on agriculture and earn their income through farming. They called on the new Afghan government to consider their problems.