Erdoğan says Turkey prepares 'a new project for voluntary return of 1 million Syrians’

* Photo and news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Turkey's President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a speech at the inauguration ceremony of the new houses built in Syria's Idlib today (May 3).

Speaking at the ceremony via video conference, Erdoğan announced that Turkey has been "preparing a new project that would allow the voluntary return of 1 million Syrian refugees to their country."

"The project will materialize soon with the support of national and international non-governmental organizations," Erdoğan noted.

According to Erdoğan, "since Turkey launched its cross-border operations in 2016, around 500,000 Syrians have returned to safe zones in northern Syria." He underlined that over 57,000 houses for around 50,000 families have so far been built in the Idlib area.

"In total, there will be 100,000 houses that will contribute to lessening the suffering of our Syrian brothers and sisters," Erdoğan said.

He further stressed that the area where houses are being built will also have a mosque, school, health center, bakery, social facility and playground. He said that the project will be realized in coordination with local and international NGOs and 13 different local councils in northern Syria.

"Accordingly, we intend to build self-sufficient residential areas which will include economic and social infrastructure for 1 million Syrian refugees, which Turkey currently hosts," President Erdoğan noted.

Syria has been locked in a civil war since early 2011 when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to the United Nations' (UN) estimates. (EMK/SD)