Muhammad Awais

Over 3.8 million Syrian refugees have lived in Türkiye for over 14 years, surpassing any other country. To develop a comprehensive strategy of hosting, healing, and repatriation, Ankara has upheld a principled policy of open borders, temporary protection laws, and integration into public services since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

Türkiye's response to the 2011 Syrian crisis was swift: it opened its arms and welcomed Syrians as "guests" rather than short-term visitors. This decision sparked a massive humanitarian movement, which led to the expansion of state-run and non-profit shelters, increased access to healthcare and education, and work permit programs controlling entry into the labour market. By 2018, almost 3.5 million Syrian refugees were temporarily protected in Türkiye, accounting for 63% of all Syrian refugees worldwide. Public services were reorganised. For instance, 19,000 Syrian students attended tuition-free public colleges, over 600,000 attended formal education, and approximately 20,000 enrolled in early childhood programs. Importantly, Muslim-majority Türkiye saw these newcomers as temporary neighbours who should be treated with respect rather than imprisoned.

However, there was a tremendous societal cost to peace. In 2024, anti-refugee riots broke out in places like Kayseri, an indication of growing cultural tension and economic distress. The response from Erdoğan's administration was to tighten labour laws and start media campaigns that promoted the idea that "refugees are guests, not burdens."

In addition to providing refuge, Türkiye has been instrumental in promoting stability in Syria, which is necessary for the eventual repatriation of refugees. Over 175,000 Syrians willingly left Türkiye and returned to their country between December 2024 and April 2025. More than 50,000 people returned in the month following Assad's overthrow alone, with daily averages surpassing 1,600 repatriations. These were polite, voluntary, and peaceful returns. Ankara was the first to implement a "go-and-see" policy that permits refugees to travel to Syria several times before deciding.

Additionally, Türkiye contributed diplomatically to the reconstruction of Syrian institutions. A former rebel leader named Ahmed al-Sharaa became interim president following the overthrow of Assad in late 2024. In February 2025, he travelled to Ankara and met with President Erdoğan to discuss concerted efforts to address security risks and restore governance frameworks. Al-Sharaa's cabinet has ministers from various backgrounds, including Kurdish, Christian, Druze, and Allawite, indicating a technocratic and inclusive outlook. The basis for refugees' dignified return is this substructure, which includes political legitimacy, governance structures, and physical infrastructure.

The next step taken by Türkiye is to organise the mass voluntary repatriation of Syrian refugees. The framework is being built, but millions of people are still in Türkiye, 2.8 million had registered as of April 2025. With domestic funding, Türkiye intends to revitalise cities into free towns like Azez and Afrin. The characteristic of a system that strikes a balance between security and informed choice is post-reconstruction assistance coupled with "go-and-see" visits.

But there are still difficulties: During his return trip, Ahmed al-Sheikh discovered shortages in livelihoods, social services, and utilities. In line with this, UNHCR warns that 1.5 million returns could halt without finance, as just $71 million has been pledged out of the $575 million required. Additionally, Syrian voices warn against forced early returns. To advance, Türkiye needs foreign funding for long-term integration, social cohesiveness, legal reinstatement, and infrastructure, efforts that Türkiye cannot afford on its own. The migration model developed in Türkiye provides powerful insights that change how the world talks about managing refugees. Legal inclusion or giving millions of Syrians temporary protected status, coupled with access to basic public services like healthcare, education, and controlled entry into the job market, is at the core of its strategy. This inclusive approach guaranteed that refugees could engage in the host society with dignity rather than being marginalised.

Türkiye's focus on a coordinated return and creating voluntary, informed, safe, and dignity-based measures is equally important. Through open initiatives like "go-and-see" visits and organised repatriation assistance, refugees are urged to return rather than coerced.

In addition, Türkiye has strategically supported political stabilisation in Syria through soft power diplomacy, realising that political legitimacy and security are just as crucial for a permanent return as physical infrastructure. Additionally, through cooperative reconstruction, Türkiye has invested in restoring northern Syria's institutions, infrastructure, and residences, coordinating these initiatives with governance improvements to promote repatriation. These pillars work together to create a comprehensive plan. Migration becomes manageable and humane when push and pull factors are carefully balanced, turning the concept of "guesthood" into stewardship. Beyond charity or reactionary politics, Türkiye's refugee model is a practical yet humane strategy that provides stability for displaced people and is an example for other countries dealing with mass displacement.

Türkiye was confronted with a historic refugee crisis fourteen years ago. As reconstruction gets underway, it provides the world with a paradigm that can be replicated: return with dignity, heal through stability, and host with compassion. This paradigm, however, is brittle. Progress is threatened by a deteriorating UN support structure, growing anti-refugee sentiment, and inadequate repatriation arrangements. Türkiye's refugee policy is a global humanitarian norm, but it cannot reconstruct Syria on its own. The international community needs to intervene. With the help of international support and collaborative funding, Türkiye's end-to-end strategy has the potential to revolutionise refugee management for many years to come. At that point, Türkiye would have provided refuge to millions of people and guided an entire population from displacement to a respectable return home. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of The Himalayan Research Institute Pakistan - (THRIP)

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Muhammad Awais is an expert in International Relations and an independent researcher who writes about global flashpoints and the latest geopolitical and strategic developments.