Syrians in Şanlıurfa need ‘road permits’ to leave province, governor’s office says

ŞANLIURFA

Syrians who are under temporary protection in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa won’t be able to leave the province if they lack “road permits,” Şanlıurfa Governor’s Office stated on Dec. 5, a move it said would determine those who have contacts with terror groups.

“Syrians who have the Temporary Protection Identification Document will be able to travel after showing road permits filed by the Şanlıurfa Migration Office to travel companies,” it said in a written statement.

Travel companies are allowed to sell tickets to those who show proof of these documents and prove that they belong to the traveler, the statement added.

The companies will also keep a copy of the “road permit” and archive it, it said.

Travel companies who do not follow the regulation will be fined.

Turkey has taken in 3 million Syrian refugees, equal to 4 percent of its population, after a bloody civil war erupted in the neighboring country in March 2011.

Istanbul tops the list of the provinces in Turkey hosting the highest number of refugees, followed by the Şanlıurfa with 439,826.