About 20,000 Syrians return from quake-affected Turkey
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The number of Syrians returning to Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing in northern Idlib from quake-affected areas in Turkey has reached 20,000 until Sunday night after the issuance of exemptions that was announced in mid-February.
The administration of Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Syria and Turkey announced 29 Syrians entered on the 47 day after Turkish authorities allowed Syrians with temporary protection cards in the quake-stricken Turkish states to return, bringing the total number of arrivals to 20,000.
At dawn on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Turkey, killing nearly 50,000 individuals and injuring much more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.
Over 57,000 people arrived in northwest Syria through Bab al-Hawa border crossing in Idlib countryside, the Jarablus and Bab al-Salameh border crossing in the northern countryside of Aleppo, the Tel Abyad border crossing in northern Raqqa, according to daily statistics published by the administration of the border crossings.
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.