More than 273,000 Syrians who fled their country’s civil war to neighbouring Turkey have returned home since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December, Turkey’s vice-president said Friday.

“The number of people who have voluntarily returned to Syria since December 8, 2024, has exceeded 273,000,” Cevdet Yilmaz was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency.

Some 2.7 million Syrian refugees are still in Turkey, according to interior ministry figures released in May.

The Turkish government, which supports Syria’s new rulers, is hoping to accelerate the return of refugees to ease tensions generated by their presence in parts of the country.

AFP

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]