A week ago on Sunday, a rebel alliance led by Islamists took power in Syria. In many countries around the world, Syrians fleeing the Assad regime celebrated the fall of the longtime ruler. Many of them have apparently gone home. On Saturday, the Turkish government already counted 7,500 Syrian citizens who had left Turkey.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Platform X that more than 1,000 Syrians were crossing the border every day until Friday. Turkey has hosted the most refugees from Syria in the world; according to the UN, approximately three million currently live in the country. If they leave for Syria, the refugees will lose their right of residence and cannot return to Turkey for the time being.
Migration expert: Many will stay
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is under domestic political pressure over the country’s refugees and wants the majority of them to return. According to migration researcher Murat Erdogan, the majority will remain in Turkey. He cites the poor economic situation and insecurity in Syria as reasons. Moreover, many Syrians have built a new life in Turkey.
Aid workers warn of “millions” of landmines and explosives
Not only destruction and an uncertain political situation await those who have returned home, but also a deadly danger in the form of landmines. The British aid organization Halo Trust is therefore calling for international efforts to clear the many landmines in Syria and make the country safer. “Returning Syrians simply do not know where the landmines are waiting. They are spread across fields, towns and cities, putting people in serious danger,” Halo Trust said on Sunday. There are currently “millions” of landmines, unexploded explosives and cluster munitions in Syria.
Damian O’Brien, who heads the Syria program at Halo Trust, said he had never seen anything like Syria. “Every day, tens of thousands of people pass through heavily mined areas, causing unnecessary fatalities.”
The students return to their classrooms
Nevertheless, something like normal daily life is slowly returning. On Sunday, almost all schools in the country reopened for the first time since the fall of Bashir al-Assad. The new rulers had previously ordered the lessons to continue. Students waited in the courtyard of a boys’ high school in Damascus on Sunday morning and applauded as school secretary Raed Nasser raised the flag introduced by the new authorities. “Everything is good,” Nasser emphasized. “We worked for two or three days to equip the school so that the students can return safely.”
In a classroom, a student pasted the new Syrian flag on a wall. “I am optimistic and very happy,” said Salah al-Din Diab. “I used to always go out into the streets, afraid that I would be called up for military service. I was always scared when I reached a checkpoint.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
