More than 30,000 Syrian refugees have crossed back into Syria through the Turkish border within the past 17 days, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Friday. Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TGRT, Yerlikaya stated, “This flow will not stop,” underscoring the ongoing movement of returnees.
Turkey, which shares a border spanning over 900 kilometers with Syria, continues to host approximately 2.92 million Syrians who fled the civil war that began in 2011.
Turkish authorities have consistently expressed their hope for significant numbers of refugees to return to Syria, citing the need to address mounting anti-Syrian sentiment among the Turkish population.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that the Syrian conflict has displaced six million people worldwide, most seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The agency anticipates that one million of these refugees could return to Syria within the next six months.
In Jordan, another major host country, approximately 1.3 million Syrians have sought refuge since the outbreak of the conflict. Of these, half are officially registered as refugees with the UN.
This wave of returns marks a significant development in the region, reflecting broader trends in migration and resettlement amidst ongoing efforts to address the refugee crisis.
