54.000 Syrians return from quake-affected Turkey
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The number of Syrians returning to northwest Syria from Turkey has reached 54.000 one month after the issuance of exemptions, crossing through four border crossings after the February 6 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
Bab al-Hawa border crossing on the Turkish border in northern Idlib announced the number of Syrians coming to northwest Syria from quake-devastated areas in Turkey has reached 17.993 people.
On the day 27 after the earthquake, 232 people, who obtain the temporary protection card (Kimlik), arrived in Syria after being permitted to return to their country from Turkey.
Recently, Turkey has eased border-crossing regulations for Syrians holding the Kimlik from any of the earthquake-stricken Turkish provinces.
11.842 people arrived in Syria through the Bab al-Salameh border crossing in northern Aleppo. 14.500 arrived through the Jarablus border crossing in northeast Aleppo, according to statistics published by the administration of the border crossings.
The administration of the Tel Abyad border crossing north of Raqqa announced 7.907 people arrived in Syria in 29 days.
Only Syrians who live in the quake-hit provinces of Gaziantep, Kilis, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Adana, Elazığ and hold the Kimlik are allowed to enter Syria.
The permit lasts at least three months and a maximum of six months. Syrian activists have expressed concern that Turkey will not allow their return.