TURKEY: Turkey mulls over Syrian refugee problem

Record ID: 276197

  • Title: TURKEY: Turkey mulls over Syrian refugee problem
  • Date: 11th June 2011
  • Summary: SYRIA/TURKEY BORDER, TURKEY (JUNE 10, 2011) (REUTERS) SYRIAN REFUGEES STANDING ON THE BORDER IN THE ROAD TURKISH MILITARY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD MORE OF SYRIANS ON THE ROAD ANOTHER MILITARY VEHICLE/ TURKISH SOLDIERS PROCESS THE REFUGEES BY REGISTERING THEM SYRIANS WALKING WITH BAGGAGE ON THE ROAD, SOUND OF WHISTLE SYRIANS STANDING ON THE ROAD MAN TAKING STRETCHER OUT O
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAP1GNQZ4X73XMVN3MWVJJJR7E
  • Story Text: There were more Syrian refugees crossing into Turkey on Friday (June 10) and, according to a Turkish daily, Ankara is considering creating a buffer zone on its border with Syria if hundreds of thousands flee the unrest there.
    Nearly 3,000 Syrians have fled into southern Turkey fearing a military assault and the Syrian army has begun a military operation near the border in the town of Jis al-Shughour, Syrian television said on Friday.
    Turkey's Hurriyet daily reported: "Foreign Ministry officials said that among scenarios that had been discussed was the creation of a buffer zone if hundreds of thousands want to seek refuge in Turkey"
    However, this is not seen as a near-term prospect. Foreign Ministry officials were not immediately available to comment.
    Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Thursday (June 9) that Turkey would keep its gates open to people from Syria. But Damascus, he said, was taking the issue "very lightly" and Ankara could not defend Syria's "inhumane" response to the unrest.
    The Syrian government has said armed gangs killed more than 120 security personnel in Jisr al-Shughour, a town of 50,000 near the Turkish border, earlier this week. Rights campaigners said the fighting was between loyalist and mutinous soldiers and that scores of civilians were killed.
    In comments reported by state-run Anatolian news agency Erdogan says he won't close his country's doors to the refugees on humanitarian grounds but expressed concern the problem may go on for a long time and could destabilise the country.
    The Red Crescent has opened a second camp to deal with the influx and a total 2,792 people are lodging at the two camps.
    The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) says the Red Crescent is working on setting up a camp north of Altinozu in Hatay province, with 1,000 tents and a capacity to host 5,000 people.
    The world body fears the numbers could be more significant this Friday when protests following Muslim prayers tend to be intensified.
    Police are keeping journalists away from the Yayladagi tented refugee camp, set in a picturesque valley just north of the Syrian border and set up by Turkey's Red Crescent five weeks ago on the grounds of a disused tobacco factory.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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