Turkey to return Syrians with “support of Qatar” – Erdogan
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday Turkey is building a new settlement across the border in northern Syria with the support of Qatar to help in the “voluntary return” of Syrians to their homeland.
On Wednesday, Turkey’s Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu, said that his country, in coordination with Qatar, will build 240,000 houses in Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syria in less than three years, adding that they “laid the foundation for 5,000 houses today,” which he said will be finished in six months.
“With the support of Qatar, the work to build houses in Syria, which can accommodate 1 million refugees, continues. Yesterday, the interior minister launched the groundbreaking ceremony,” Erdogan said.
The number of settlements built by Turkey with the support of Gulf countries, most notably Kuwait and Qatar, and Palestinian associations, has exceeded more than 100 in Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syria, according to North Press’ own investigations.
Although Erdogan insists that his government does not deport Syrians, but rather encourage their “voluntary return”, some international reports suggest otherwise.
As Erdogan approaches the runoff Turkish elections, due on May 28, he tries to win nationalist votes amid growing anti-refugee sentiment in Turkey.