Ankara — Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he is making policy changes towards Syrian refugees living on the streets of Turkey, which may include their deportation and end their free healthcare services, official Türkiye news reported.
Analysts said that the increasing displeasure with Syrian refugees is a cause for concern for Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which lost even the financial hubs of Istanbul and Ankara, in the March 31 local elections.
“Turkey’s stumbling economy and rising unemployment has fuelled anger against the presence of Turkey’s Syrian refugees, and many are resented by Turks as cheap labour taking over jobs and using services,” Reuters reported last week.
Syrians Barometer-2017 shows the statistics that a large portion of Turkish population hate Syrian refugees, they are viewed as burden and blamed for deteriorating public services, price increases, and rising unemployment.
There have been reports of intercommunal violence between Turkish citizens and Syrian refugees. Due to the growing resentment, Erdogan will deport a large number of Syrians.
