Turkish Interior Minister: “25,000 Syrian refugees returned home this month”

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced a sevenfold increase in the number of Syrian refugees voluntarily returning to their homeland in the last 15 days following the collapse of the 61-year-old Ba’ath regime in Syria and the flight of President Bashar al-Assad to Russia on December 8.

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA), Minister Yerlikaya stated that 763,443 Syrians have returned home in a “voluntary, safe, dignified, and orderly manner” since 2017.

The past two weeks have witnessed an unprecedented spike, he added, with over 25,000 Syrians crossing the border, compared to the monthly average of 11,000 in the previous 11 months of the year.

Returns of Syrian refugees

Yerlikaya stated that, to manage the increased flow of returnees, Türkiye has significantly expanded the processing capacity at its six border crossings, increasing it from 3,020 to around 19,000 crossing per day.

A central appointment system has been established, allowing Syrians across 81 provinces to schedule their return online and receive same-day appointments, he said.

The minister explained that the return process involves biometric verification, background checks through the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP), and a voluntary return form completed in the presence of a third-party observer from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Turkish Red Crescent, or the Provincial Human Rights Board.

“In a move to facilitate the resettlement process, Türkiye is now allowing returnees to transport their belongings, including household goods and even business equipment, directly to their destinations in Syria using the same vehicle. Furthermore, they can deregister their vehicles in Türkiye and take them to Syria, avoiding further tax obligations,” he added.

Demographics and education

As of today, there are 4,164,472 foreigners with legal right of stay in Türkiye. Of these, 2,920,119 are Syrians under temporary protection.

Minister Yerlikaya provided detailed demographic information on the Syrian refugee population in Türkiye, noting that the largest group, 61 percent hails from Aleppo. He also highlighted the significant number of Syrian children born in Türkiye, approximately 875,000, representing 30 percent of the total Syrian refugee population.

Regarding education, 819,265 Syrian children are enrolled in Turkish schools, representing a 76.5 percent enrollment rate. Additionally, 60,750 Syrian youth are currently studying in Turkish universities, with 17,379 having already graduated.

The Turkish government anticipates a continued increase in voluntary returns as the situation in Syria stabilizes.