President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Monday that 200,000 Syrians have returned from Turkey to their homeland since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.
In a speech delivered at an event focused on migration management in Istanbul, he stated, “The number of returnees from Turkey to Syria since December 9, 2024, has reached 200,000 people.”
Erdoğan noted that the pace of Syrian returnees from Turkey to Syria has accelerated as conditions improve in Syria, pointing out that the country is moving towards recovery despite difficulties, obstacles, and acts of sabotage.
On the topic of migration, the Turkish president highlighted that policies from Western powers have forced migrants to leave their countries.
He emphasized that Western powers tend to shy away when it comes time to share the burdens of migrants.
The president denied claims made by the Turkish opposition suggesting that the number of migrants in Turkey is exaggerated, affirming that his country does not neglect efforts to combat irregular migration and human trafficking.
In this context, he clarified that 270,000 irregular migrants have been prevented from entering Turkey in the last two years.
He reiterated Turkey’s determination not to allow inhumane practices, such as the mistreatment of migrants, similar to what is frequently witnessed in Western countries.
According to a publication from the Presidency of Migration Management in mid-April, there are currently 2,782,733 Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey, while the total number of foreign residents in Turkey, including those Syrians, stands at 4,043,215.
