In Pictures

‘For a better life’: Families return to Turkey from NE Syria

Citing rising prices and fears of government takeover, Syrians return after months on the other side of the border.

A man pushes an older Syrian woman on a wheelchair while another helps with her luggage as they make their way out of the Karkamis border crossing — A man pushes a wheelchair as people make their way out of the Karkamis border crossing. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

Karkamis, Turkey – In what is usually a crowded space filled with Syrian families eager to return home, the area around the Turkish border gate of Karkamis was empty.

On Thursday, Karkamis, which links Turkey to the Syrian cities of Jarablus and al-Bab, saw people passing through from the opposite direction.

A translator at the border who facilitates the entry and exit of Syrians told Al Jazeera that there are 200 to 300 individuals who usually choose to voluntarily return to Syria on a daily basis.

“We see families from various areas in Syria who want to go back every day,” he said.

After signing relevant documents, those who wish to leave must hand over identity cards, known as “kimlik”, which grants them the right to reside in Turkey.

Signing the paper prevents from returning to Turkey for five years.

But over the past week, Syrian families who were in Syria for long holidays quickly returned due to the unrest. They witnessed the effects of the Turkish-led military operation in northeast Syria which has been paused after the United States and Turkey announced a five-day ceasefire.

Some of the people Al Jazeera spoke to left the country earlier than scheduled, citing inflation and a fear of the return of government control.

In al-Bab, while basic necessities such as water and electricity were unavailable, other costs of living were simply “unaffordable”, one man said.

The pause in Turkey’s operations is meant to grant Kurdish-led forces in the region a window to withdraw 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) south of the border, and away from the so-called “safe zone” Ankara wants to establish inside Syria.

Launched on October 9, the aim of the operation was to clear the region of Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), a group Ankara considers “terrorists” linked to Kurdish separatists on its soil.

Families wait to board designated buses at the Karkamis border crossing to return to their homes across southern Turkey — Families wait to board buses at the Karkamis border crossing to return to their homes across southern Turkey. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

Empty buses wait to be filled with Syrian families exiting the Karkamis border crossing — Empty vans wait to be filled with Syrian families exiting the Karkamis border crossing. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

Syrian families who were inside the country for months returned ahead of schedule, citing instability — Syrian families who were inside the country for months returned before schedule, citing instability. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

Ambulances and medics on standby at the Karkamis border crossing in case of medical emergencies — Ambulances and medics on standby at the Karkamis border crossing. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

A man flashes his entry stamp as he waited to board a bus to Gaziantep’s suburbs — A man shows his entry stamp as he waits to board a bus to Gaziantep's suburbs. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

A boy stand by his father as they wait to board buses driving them back to various areas of Turkey’s Gaziantep — A boy stands by his father as they wait to board buses taking them back to various areas in Turkey's Gaziantep. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

Since last week, due to Turkey military operation in northeast Syria, the number of those willin — Due to Turkish military operation in northeast Syria, the number of people willing to return voluntarily has almost stopped. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

Turkish troops stand and speak near an army tank positioned directly in front of the Karkamis border crossing — Turkish troops positioned near an army tank in front of the Karkamis border crossing. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

tukery1111 — Ambulances stand at the Karkamis border gate, a few kilometres from neighbouring Syrian cities of Jarablus and al-Bab. [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]