How Many Syrian Refugees Are in Turkey?

As of February 2022, Turkey hosted around 3.7 million Syrian refugees, making it the country with the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world. Their influx into Turkey began in 2011, as the Syrian Civil War erupted and violence escalated.

Syrian refugees crossed into Turkey, because it shares a 565-mile-long border with Syria, stretching from the tripoint with Iraq in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Turkey is also a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, which means it has committed itself to protecting the rights of refugees.

Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, the Turkish government has taken steps to provide assistance and support to Syrian refugees, including setting up refugee camps, providing education and healthcare services, and undertaking legislative and institutional reforms to build an effective national asylum system.

However, these commitments haven’t always brought about swift results, as there are many Syrian refugees in Turkey living in overcrowded camps where there have been reports of poor living conditions and limited access to basic services, such as healthcare and education.

There have also been tensions between the refugee population and local communities. Some Turks have expressed frustration with the strain on resources and increased competition for jobs, while others have been more welcoming and supportive of the refugee population.

Although Syrian refugees have faced many difficulties in Turkey, the country has provided them with the safety they sought when fleeing the violence in their home country. However, that safety was shattered for both Syrian refugees and Turkish citizens on February 6th, 2023 when two powerful earthquakes rocked the region. The border between Turkey and Syria was one of the areas hit particularly hard, causing devastating destruction in both countries. 

As of March 8th, 2023, there were over 45,968 confirmed deaths in Turkey, with millions more people being displaced, and around 26 million individuals in need of assistance in both Turkey and Syria. Many of the Syrian refugees who were already in a foreign country seeking safety and assistance have now also been affected by this tragedy. 

Further, in northwest Syria (near the Turkish border), there have been over 4,500 deaths and 8,700 injuries. In this area, there are currently 4.1 million people in need, 3.3 million individuals who are food insecure, and 2.9 million internally displaced people, of whom 1.9 million live in camps.

This recent tragedy has compounded an already dire situation, resulting in millions of Syrians and Turks seeking shelter, safety, and assistance in the aftermath of these catastrophic earthquakes.

The Syrian and Turkish people desperately need help from individuals, agencies, organizations, and countries in order to find refuge and safety. The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is appealing to all those who are able to support the survivors of the earthquakes. 

ICMC advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and all migrants. ICMC and its members remain committed to supporting immigration policies that produce more sustainable solutions.

ICMC’s efforts include protecting internally displaced children in Burkina Faso, providing assistance to Afghan refugees with our partner agencies, providing support to survivors of gender-based violence in Malaysia, aiding Ukrainian refugees, and more.

We rely on generous donations to continue our critical work, so consider making a donation to help make a difference in the lives of Turkish and Syrian earthquake survivors today!