Syrian who lives in Türkiye wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, Türkiye, December 9, 2024. (AFP Photo)
By Newsroom
Dec 10, 2024 12:49 PM
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya provided an update on the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their home country, noting a significant increase in the number of Syrians choosing to return safely and honorably.
According to Yerlikaya, the number of voluntary returns has increased from an average of 11,000 per month in 2024 to nearly one-and-a-half to two times that number as of recent reports.
Turkish soldiers gestures as Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)A Syrian who lives in Turkey wait sits next to her belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)
Significant increase in Syrian refugee returns
Yerlikaya discussed the ongoing trends regarding Syrian refugees in Türkiye. He emphasized that voluntary returns had accelerated in the past few weeks.
“In 2024, we were seeing an average of 11,000 voluntary returns per month. However, since yesterday afternoon, that number has increased significantly, with border crossing numbers rising as well,” said Yerlikaya.
Syrian refugees passe the Cilvegozu crossborder gate to enter Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)
Increased border capacity to facilitate returns
Yerlikaya also revealed that Türkiye had increased the capacity of its border crossings to accommodate the surge in returns. He explained that previously, the daily border crossing capacity was around 3,000, but now, it has been expanded to handle up to 15,000-20,000 people per day, given the rise in voluntary returns.
The capacity increase is aimed at ensuring safe and orderly returns for Syrian refugees, providing them with a secure route back to their country.
There are 2 million 935 thousand Syrians. We know the addresses of each of them. We will act with an appointment system for returns. We will give the person who will return to Syria which door, when and at what time they will leave by appointment through the system. Thus, they will be registered. This year, there are 11 thousand monthly returns on average. On Sunday, this number was around 400. While we currently have a daily capacity of 3 thousand people, we have increased this capacity to 15-20 thousand.
We have made the necessary additional assignments to the border. Our relevant ministries are also making preparations
Yerlikaya mentioned that the Turkish government will be meeting with Syrian civil society organizations (CSOs) and those supporting Syrians in Türkiye to discuss further steps regarding the refugee situation.
These discussions, set for Wednesday, will focus on supporting voluntary, safe, and dignified returns.
On Wednesday, we will meet with Syrian NGOs and NGOs supporting Syrians. In 2024, there were around 11 thousand voluntary, safe and honorable returns per month on average. There were around 300-350 returns daily. Today, there has been a movement.
This number increased 1.5-2 times until noon. Our daily capacity for voluntary, safe and dignified returns at our border gates was around 3 thousand. This capacity was sufficient as 350-400 people crossed daily. However, since the number of crossings may increase, we have now increased this capacity to 15-20 thousand.
Regarding Syrians under temporary protection, as you know, we have made address updates. Currently, the number of Syrians under temporary protection in our country is 2 million 936 thousand. Address updates have been made for all of them. We will hold a press conference. We will share with the public how we are working on voluntary, safe and dignified returns.
We are following the developments in Syria moment by moment. After 13 years, we see that Syrians have dreams of returning to their country. There are 1 million 247 thousand 432 Aleppians under temporary protection. We share all information on migration management with the public. We will continue to share it again.
We will inform the public. We are working in coordination not only with the Ministry of Interior but also with other ministries. We are working on what we can do to facilitate voluntary, safe and dignified return. We will announce these in due course.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
Soldiers controls a taxi as Syrian residents wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey arrive with their belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey arrive with their belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)A Turkish soldier checks documents as Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli distict in Hatay, on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)
Current situation of Syrian refugees in Türkiye
As of the latest data, there are approximately 2.9 million Syrians under temporary protection in Türkiye. Since 2016, over 737,000 Syrian refugees have returned voluntarily to Syria.
Yerlikaya stressed that the government has completed address updates for the Syrians under temporary protection, ensuring better monitoring and management of their current living conditions in Türkiye.
Yerlikaya also noted that 1.25 million of the Syrian refugees currently in Türkiye are from Aleppo, highlighting the significant regional impact of the refugee crisis.
He reassured the public that Türkiye’s immigration management system remains transparent, with frequent updates provided to the public regarding the refugee situation.
Everything is so fresh right now. 10 days ago, no one would have believed that something like this would happen. There has been so much drama and tragedy.
Let people rejoice a little bit at the possibility of going back. Just as they came here from Syria with great enthusiasm to protect their lives, they are just as enthusiastic to return to their country.
The information coming from the field supports this argument.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
A Syrian who lives in Turkey holds a baby as he waits in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian residents who lives in Turkey arrive with their belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey arrive with their belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, on December 9,2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)Syrian refugees who lives in Turkey wait in a queue with their belongings at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay on December 9, 2024. – Islamist-led rebels declared on December 8, 2024, that they have taken the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive, sending President Bashar al-Assad fleeing and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)
Syrian refugees’ desire to return
Reflecting on the current situation in Syria, Yerlikaya emphasized that many refugees are keen to return home, now that a new government is being formed in Syria.
He pointed out that after 13 years of conflict, there is growing optimism among Syrians about the possibility of returning to their homeland.
“We see that Syrians have dreams of returning to their country,” Yerlikaya said, indicating that many refugees are hopeful about returning as the situation in Syria stabilizes.
Syrian who lives in Türkiye wait in a queue at Cilvegozu crossborder gate before entering in Syria at Reyhanli district in Hatay, Türkiye, December 9, 2024. (AFP Photo)
