Decline in Temporary Protected Syrians in Turkey

Decline in Temporary Protected Syrians in Turkey
November 21, 2024, 10:24 am

السوريين في تركيا

Decline in the Number of Syrians Under Temporary Protection in Turkey: New Data and Residency Update Procedures*

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed a significant decrease in the number of Syrians residing under temporary protection in Turkey, with the total number now at 2,935,742 refugees. This announcement follows a call by Turkish authorities for Syrians to update their residency information.

In statements made during a press conference reported by the Anadolu Agency, Yerlikaya explained that 731,146 refugees had not updated their information. As a result, they were given a 90-day grace period to complete this process. The minister confirmed that 580,819 individuals had responded to the update request, either by updating their data or by scheduling appointments to do so.

The minister also noted that the data of 150,327 Syrian refugees who had not received any public services for at least a year has been removed. This is part of the Turkish government’s efforts to ensure better organization of refugee-related data.

Regarding returns, Yerlikaya mentioned that approximately 114,083 refugees had voluntarily returned to their home country of Syria in 2024. These figures reflect an increasing trend of refugees returning to their countries, raising questions about the conditions in Syria and the current refugee policy orientation in the region.

This information comes at a critical time when Turkey is facing numerous social and economic challenges due to the large number of Syrian refugees. By emphasizing the importance of updating data and statistics, the Turkish government aims to improve the management of the refugee file, ensure better service delivery, and enhance the restoration of order in its handling of refugees.

This change in the number of Syrian refugees under temporary protection in Turkey presents an opportunity for officials and policymakers to gain a deeper understanding of the current reality, develop policies that support the integration of refugees into Turkish society, or facilitate their safe return to their home country, as well as improving the services provided to them.

U.S. Efforts to Prevent Arms Shipment to Hezbollah via Syria Human Rights Report: 30,293 Syrian Children Victims of Conflict Since 2011