Türkiye hosts over 3.1M Syrian migrants: Interior Minister

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Friday that there are currently 3.1 million Syrian migrants in Türkiye. He emphasized that Türkiye is no longer a transit route and has made significant progress in combating terrorism.

“We have an issue with migration, but it’s a global problem,” Yerlikaya said during a press conference. “Migration has always existed. Currently, there are 3.1 million Syrians under temporary protection, 1.12 million foreigners with residence permits, and 224,698 individuals under international protection in Türkiye.”

Yerlikaya also discussed the broader context of migration, noting that Syria’s population is 23.5 million, with 17 million still in the country and 6.5 million displaced across various nations.

“Since the conflict began, 350,000 Syrians have lost their lives. Türkiye hosts 3,103,606 Syrians,” he added.

Addressing efforts to combat illegal immigration, Yerlikaya stated, “In the last 14 months, we have achieved a record number of deportations related to irregular migration and human trafficking. Our Coast Guard Command is doing an outstanding job. We are determined to crack down on human smugglers. The entire Syrian border is now walled.”

Yerlikaya also highlighted Türkiye’s success in counterterrorism, noting, “Thankfully, we can say that terrorism within the country has almost been eradicated. We must state this openly.”

He concluded by reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to continue its counterterrorism efforts both within its borders and beyond.