Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci announced on Friday that the number of Syrians who have voluntarily returned to their country since 2016 has exceeded 1,434,000. The statement was made during a consultation and evaluation meeting on migration at the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority in Istanbul, as reported by Anadolu News Agency.
Current Status of Syrians in Turkey
Ciftci noted that the number of Syrians under the temporary protection system in Turkey currently stands at 2,259,000. He emphasized that about one-third of these individuals were born in Turkey, highlighting that the migration issue is no longer a temporary population movement but has taken on long-term social and demographic dimensions.
Work Permit Exemptions and Labor Market Integration
The Turkish authorities have decided to exempt foreigners under temporary protection from obtaining work permits, taking into account the labor market needs that Syrians help meet. Ciftci stated that Turkey attaches importance to employing Syrians in a regulated manner, just like all other foreigners. He added that the government is conducting a comprehensive assessment of voluntary return processes, the future of the temporary protection system, and mechanisms for regular migration.
Post-2024 Developments
The Turkish Interior Ministry announced last December that 578,000 Syrians had voluntarily returned to their country in a safe and organized manner since the fall of the ousted regime and the liberation of Syria on December 8, 2024. Turkey has topped the list of countries hosting Syrian refugees worldwide, having received millions of them since the beginning of the Syrian conflict.
