ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ankara is working with the United Nations to send back refugees, including Syrians to their home countries, local media reported the Turkish foreign minister saying. “Primarily with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), we have some work to ensure that refugees, especially Syrians, return to their countries,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday while speaking to reporters during a ceremony in Antalya’s Manavgat district. The country now receives better support from the international community “to make refugees return to their countries in a safe manner,” he added, as reported by Bianet. Turkey is home to some 4 million migrants - most of them Syrian refugees who fled their homes after the civil war began in 2011. After a decade of conflict in Syria, several countries, including Turkey, are pressuring refugees to return to their home country, claiming it is safe for their return. However, a human rights watchdog has reported scores of human rights violations, including sexual abuse, torture and enforced disappearances that were committed by Syrian forces against 66 returnees, including 13 children. “Any government claiming Syria is now safe is willfully ignoring the horrific reality on the ground, leaving refugees once again fearing for their lives,” said Amnesty International researcher Marie Forestier. She urged European nations to grant refugee status to Syria and neighboring countries to protect Syrians sheltering within their borders. In June, the European Commission said it is planning to dedicate over €5 billion to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to provide socio-economic support for Syrian refugees they host. In 2016, Turkey and EU made a deal where Ankara agreed to shut its borders to refugees trying to reach Europe in exchange for funds.
