Hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkey on Monday, as they attempt to make their return home following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Videos shared on social media showed the refugees waiting at the Cilvegozu and Oncupinar border gates on Monday, which correspond to the Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salameh gates on the Syrian side of the border.
Many arrived with their belongings, and were draped in blankets and coats. Others camped by border barriers, warming themselves with makeshift fires.
One Syrian interviewed by Turkish media said that he was “very happy” that he is able to return to his homeland and went on to thank Turkey for hosting him as a refugee.
“As soon I heard Assad was gone, I became happy. I leave him now in the hands of God”.
Turkish officials have not said how many Syrians have returned since Assad’s downfall. Authorities set up a checkpoint some 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Cilvegozu, only allowing Syrians with proper documents to the border gate, HaberTurk television reported.
Assad’s fall has sparked widespread joy among Turkey’s 3 million Syrian refugees, with many taking to the streets of Istanbul and other cities to celebrate. On Sunday, Syrians also removed the Syrian government’s flag from the Syrian Consulate in Istanbul, replacing it with the opposition’s flag.
Other refugees who have yet to make a move towards Syria, said will do so in the near future.
Hussein Barghout told The New Arab’s Arabic-language site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: “As soon as the liberation of Saraqib was announced, I began to gather my belongings in order to return to my hometown of Abu al-Duhur”.
“I will return immediately after the end of the school year and liquidate my household assets, even though my situation in Turkey is comfortable, my income is reasonable, and I have no problem with my legal status. We have witnessed some racism in recent years, but Turkey has been like a second home, and since we arrived as refugees eight years ago, we have not faced any significant problems.”
Engineer Batoul Ahmed said: “As soon as Turkey clarifies the form of legal exit for refugees, I will return from Istanbul with my husband and children to live in Aleppo. We have not decided on a date for our return yet, but the option of returning is settled after the asylum period extended for six years.”
Turkey welcomed Syrian refugees with open arms in the early years of the Syrian civil war that broke out in 2011 — becoming host to the largest number of refugees in the world. But as Turkey faced economic challenges, public opinion toward the refugees soured, and Syrians soon found themselves used as scapegoats amid Turkey’s social challenges.
Many politicians have gone on to call for their deportation, and made promises to expel them should they come too power during presidential elections.
Over the years, thousands of Syrian refugees have returned from Turkey under a “voluntary return” plan which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to uphold following his presidential election win in 2023.
Turkish officials now hope that a significant number of Syrians will return voluntarily.
“We will continue our efforts to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Syrians and to rebuild the country,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday.
At Cilvegozu, some refugees wheeled their suitcases while others carried belongings in sacks.
Zakariya Mori al-Shami, 31, who arrived in Turkey in 2019, was waiting to cross the border with his wife and two children to return to Aleppo. He hopes to rebuild his home, which was destroyed during the conflict.
“We came here because there was a war now the war is over and we’re going back,” he said.
Hundreds of displaced Syrians were also returning on Monday from Lebanon, with dozens of cars lining up to enter. Lebanese residents on Sunday handed out congratulatory sweets to Syrians waiting to go back to their country.
Despite joy at being able to return, some Syrian refugees are more apprehensive as the country’s future remains uncertain due to the transitionary period it is currently witnessing.
Poet and media figure Yasser Al-Atrash told Al-Araby that “Syrians face enormous tasks after regaining their country. We are facing a country with an exhausted social structure, with generations of fighters, illiterate people, and children who were born and raised in displacement camps and do not know the meaning of homeland.”
“People are thinking about returning with their own plans, which is logical and natural. The greater task remains entrusted to those working in the public sector, from intellectuals, economists, politicians, and elites. The responsibility of treating society and working on its recovery lies on their shoulders,” he added.
Agencies contributed to this report.