Türkiye builds 116,000 homes for displaced Syrians, facilitating safe returns
Syrian refugees who lives in Türkiye wait in a queue with their belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria, at Reyhanli district in Hatay, December 9, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has coordinated the construction of 116,000 homes in Syria, providing shelter for thousands of displaced families, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu’s Editor’s Desk, Yerlikaya highlighted Türkiye’s efforts to support the voluntary and safe return of Syrians. He noted that 110,000 families are now living in these newly built brick homes across secure regions, including the Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Idlib de-escalation zones.
Yerlikaya also revealed that over 25,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland in the past 15 days, marking a significant sevenfold increase in the return rate.
“AFAD, in collaboration with national civil society organizations, made these homes a reality, helping displaced individuals rebuild their lives in safety,” Yerlikaya said.
Support for Sednaya Prison investigations
Yerlikaya also addressed AFAD’s involvement in Sednaya Prison, following a request from local Syrian authorities. AFAD provided advanced search and rescue equipment, assisting in ongoing investigations.
“Our teams conducted thorough searches around the prison area, but no new discoveries regarding missing persons or mass graves were made. These places of torture are a disgrace to humanity,” Yerlikaya stated.
Türkiye’s humanitarian aid
AFAD’s efforts extend beyond housing. Yerlikaya explained that the agency has distributed vital supplies, including 316 truckloads of flour from the Turkish Grain Board and 571 truckloads of aid coordinated by NGOs to regions in need.
He noted that President Erdoğan has implemented a plan allowing each Syrian family to designate one individual for three entry-exit rights between January 1 and July 1, 2025, to help with return preparations.
A logistics center in Cobanbey, near Türkiye’s southern Kilis province, serves as a hub for these operations, processing over 1 million food packages and 110,400 tons of flour annually.
Yerlikaya also announced plans to open Migration Management Offices at Türkiye’s Embassy in Damascus and Consulate in Aleppo, enabling Syrian refugees’ records to be used for administrative purposes in Syria.
Highlighting Türkiye’s humane migration policies, Yerlikaya emphasized the importance of addressing migration at its source. He reiterated that the construction of brick homes and other efforts reflect Türkiye’s commitment to supporting displaced Syrians with dignity and compassion.
“As of today, 4,164,472 foreigners have legal residence rights in Türkiye, including 2,920,119 Syrians under temporary protection,” Yerlikaya concluded.
