Syrians moving out of tent cities in SE Turkey

Syrians residing at temporary accommodation centers in southeastern Şanlıurfa's Akcçkale district continue to move out with their families.

The Directorate General of Migration Management asked the preference of stay of the Syrian guests at the Akçakale Temporary Accommodation Center.

Nearly 5,000 Syrians have moved out of the tent city that is soon to be closed and went to houses they rented in neighboring districts and provinces, escorted by gendarmerie and security units.

The accommodation center, established in 2012 by the Directorate General of Migration Management, was hosting 22,220 Syrians.

For those who chose to move out of the accommodation center and move to cities other than Antalya and Istanbul receive monetary funds if a rental lease is provided.

The evacuation process from the temporary accommodation center is expected to be completed by Oct. 26.

Turkey hosts some 3.5 million Syrian refugees -- more than any other other country in the world -- spending more than $32 billion from its own national resources to help and shelter refugees since the beginning of the Syrian civil war.