Minister Bolat: 'Nearly 40,000 returns to Syria have occurred'

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Trade Minister Ömer Bolat visited the Cilvegözü Border Gate in Reyhanlı district of Hatay and conducted inspections in the buffer zone here.

Later, Bolat examined the aid vehicles belonging to non-governmental organizations in front of the border gate and greeted the Syrians waiting at the border gate to cross into their country. In statements made here, Bolat said that a new era began in Syria on December 8, 2024.

"NEARLY 40,000 RETURNS HAVE OCCURRED"

In response to a question about the number of Syrians crossing into their country, Bolat stated that he received information from Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı this morning and provided the following answer:

"A total of 27,941 people have definitively returned through Hatay's 3 customs gates, and when we include the other customs gates, according to the statement of our Minister of Interior, nearly 40,000 returns have occurred. Of course, they want to see the conditions there first. There are children studying in schools in Turkey. In the coming weeks and months, returns will accelerate. Our Ministry of Interior has initiated a new application. Within 6 months, the right to temporary travel back and forth has been granted three times to see the conditions on-site and to create the necessary conditions. This will also facilitate the acceleration of returns with the establishment of conditions there.