Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Saturday that approximately 550,000 Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned to Syria from Turkey following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. The announcement was made during a meeting at the Justice and Development Party headquarters in Kilis Province, near the Syrian border.
According to Anadolu Agency, Yerlikaya stated that the total number of voluntary returns since 2016 has reached 1.29 million, underscoring Turkey’s continued efforts to facilitate safe and dignified repatriation. He emphasized that the return process is being carried out with “meticulous care,” reflecting Ankara’s commitment to managing the transition responsibly.
The minister also noted that while the number of Syrians in Turkey has declined, nearly 2.4 million refugees remain in the country, down from a peak of over 3.5 million.
The announcement comes amid renewed calls from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urging the international community to intensify support for Syria’s reconstruction and to help end the prolonged displacement of millions.
The UN agency recently reported that over 1.16 million Syrians have returned home since the regime’s collapse, along with 1.9 million internally displaced people who have been able to resettle in their original communities.
