In Turkey, almost two million Syrians live in the provinces affected by the earthquake. Exiles settled in the country for several years. Many have lost everything. Some therefore decide to return to their countries in the Idlib region, the last enclave still resisting Bashar al Assad’s regime. An area also devastated by the earthquake.
>> Earthquake in Turkey: “We had rebuilt our lives here and suddenly the whole city was devastated,” says a Syrian refugee
At the Bab al Hawa border post, whole families arrive crammed into shared taxis. “We only took clothes and food for my grandparents. That’s all we have!” says Rimas, 13. She grew up in Turkey. The young Syrian prepares to return to her country for the first time despite the war. There is no other choice, explains his mother. “Our landlord asked us to go to relocate his relatives who lost their house in the earthquake. We left our stuff. We hope to come back one day.”
“I’m afraid to go back, but we have no choice. There is no more accommodation here! The earthquake destroyed almost everything in our city. This situation is really tough for everyone.”
A Syrian refugee
at franceinfo
“Find Some Dignity”
The gendarmes are trying to organize the long queue. The Turkish authorities have exceptionally allowed Syrians enjoying temporary protection to return to their countries for a maximum of six months. “I’ll see how things go in Idlib, but if the situation allows, I’ll stay,” says Mahmoud, 21. “I’ve been living in Turkey for a year and a half and here our everyday life as Syrians is a bit difficult. It’s hard to find work. So maybe it’s better to go back to Syria: we’ll regain at least some dignity… And then it’s our country,” the young man confides.
In Turkey, Fadi’s house was destroyed by the earthquake. On the other side of the border, too, his relatives lost everything. “I go home to mourn my loved ones who have passed away. There are about fifteen of them: children, women, men,” says Fadi. “After this disaster, we need to be with our families to support them.”
“We go from tragedy to tragedy. We fled the war. And now this earthquake: death has become our daily life.”
Fadi, a Syrian refugee
at franceinfo
A few hours later, Fadi will return to his Idlib region, which was devastated by the earthquake. And already devastated by 11 years of war. A few days ago, Bashar al Assad’s regime targeted a village on the front line.
‘No other options’, Syrian refugees in Turkey forced to return to Idlib: Noé Pignède’s report
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