About 56,000 Syrians return from quake-affected Turkey
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The number of Syrians returning to northwest Syria from Turkey has reached 56,000, 35 days after the issuance of exemptions, crossing through four border crossings after the Feb. 6 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Syria and Turkey in Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria, announced the number of Syrians coming to northwest Syria from quake-devastated areas in Turkey has reached 78,818 people.
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.
On the day 32 after the earthquake, 171 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.
55,312 people arrived in Syria through the Bab al-Salameh border crossing in the northern countryside of Aleppo. 80,015 arrived through the Jarablus border crossing in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, according to statistics published by the administration of the border crossings.
The administration of the Tel Abyad border crossing, north of Raqqa, announced 8,000 people arrived in Syria in 32 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.