Syrians flock home from Turkey for Eid despite danger

Khaled al-Khateb

Aug 17, 2018

Syrians, who say they are returning to Syria ahead of Eid al-Fitr, carry their belongings as they walk to the Turkish Cilvegozu border gate located opposite of the Syrian crossing point of Bab al-Hawa in Reyhanli, in the southern Hatay province, Turkey June 14, 2017. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC126797B440 — Syrians, who say they are returning to Syria ahead of Eid al-Fitr, carry their belongings as they walk to the Turkish Cilvegozu border gate located opposite of the Syrian crossing point of Bab al-Hawa, Turkey, June 14, 2017. — REUTERS/Umit Bektas

عربي

ALEPPO, Syria — Syrian refugees living in Turkey have been entering Idlib, in northern Syria, for the Eid al-Adha holiday. The administration of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing started to allow people in through on Aug. 6 and will continue to do so through Aug. 19.

Within the first two days, 5,000 people had crossed. On Aug. 9, their number reached 8,000. The crossing administration expects the number of people crossing into Syria to spend the holiday to reach 40,000.