With the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syriah Turkey is now deploying military forces at the border crossings in order to facilitate the Syrian refugees who wish to return to their country, as announced today (10.12.2024) by the Turkish Minister of the Interior.
In particular, Ali Gerlikaya stated that until now there was the possibility of 3,000 daily crossings from Turkey to Syria, but now these have increased to 15-20,000 crossings.
Many Syrian refugees living in Turkey rushed to the south of the country to return to Syria as soon as it became known that Bashar Al-Assad had been overthrown. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced yesterday Monday (09.12.2024) that the Gialantagi border crossing in Hatay province, which has been closed since 2013, is reopening.
REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya
Gerlikaya said that on Sunday “300-400” crossings were recorded by the Turkish border posts and Monday midnight (08-09.12.224) that number had already doubled. The Turkish Interior Minister said that tomorrow Wednesday (11.12.2024) he will meet with officials of non-governmental Syrian organizations, without naming them.
«Since 2016, more than 738,000 Syrians have returned home voluntarily“, he said, noting that 2,935,000 still remain in Turkey. “I believe that the strong wind of change blowing in Syria will benefit all Syrians and especially the refugees. As long as Syria regains its stability, voluntary returns will multiply,” the Turkish minister added.
REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya
According to the Turkish authorities, 1.24 million refugees come from Aleppo provincewhose capital was the first to fall to the rebels, on December 1st. Early on Monday morning, AFP correspondents saw hundreds of refugees gathering at the Chilvegezu border post, 50 kilometers from Aleppo.
«If you told them three days in advance what was going to happen, no one would have believed it“, Gerlikaya commented. “Syria has experienced a great tragedy and it is finally time for them to rejoice. We will make great efforts to allow them to return to their homes“, he added.
REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya
THE Erdogan had telephone contacts today with the object of Syria with the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyenthe Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte and her prime minister of Italy, Georgia Meloni. In his communication with Ursula von der Leyen he assured that “the safe and voluntary return of Syrians to their country is organized».