Turkish-Syrian crossing opens after presidential election
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The administration of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey in northern Idlib, northwest Syria, announced on Monday that it was again open for Syrians from quake-stricken provinces in Turkey to return.
On May 27, the border crossings between Syria and Turkey were completely closed to both civilians and trade in areas held by Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), shortly before the Turkish presidential election runoff.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was elected president of the country for the third term on May 28, ahead of his rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
The administration of the crossing said in a statement that quake-affected Syrians who came to their areas in northwest Syria could return to Turkey starting Tuesday.
Returns through the crossing will occur on four days, according to the border crossing’s statement.
The latest statistic announced by the administration of the border crossing on May 22 showed that the total number of Syrians who have arrived from Turkey is 23,159.
Recently, Turkey eased border-crossing regulations for Syrians who have a Temporary Protection ID Card (Kimlik) from any of the earthquake-stricken provinces.
The new law, passed in the wake of the Feb. 6 earthquake, allows Syrians holding “Kimlik” from one of the ten quake-hit Turkish provinces to return to their country for three to six months.
At dawn on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Turkey. The confirmed death toll stands at 59,259 in Turkey, and 8,476 in Syria.