On Saturday, the German Minister of the Interior announced that Berlin will facilitate the granting of three-month visas to the Syrians and Turks affected by the earthquake, if they have families in the European country.
“It is an emergency aid,” Nancy Weser told Bild newspaper, adding, “We want to allow Turkish and Syrian families in Germany to bring their relatives from the affected area without bureaucracy.”
Speaking about this joint initiative between the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, the minister added that residents of the earthquake-stricken areas that left more than 25,000 people dead can obtain “regular visas that are delivered quickly and valid for three months.”
This simplified mechanism allows the afflicted to “find shelter and receive medical treatment” in Germany.
About 2.9 million people of Turkish origin reside in Germany, more than half of whom (1.5 million) hold Turkish citizenship.
Germany also includes a large number of Syrian refugees, especially since former Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to open the borders in 2015 and 2016.
According to the German Department for Migration and Refugees, “about 924,000 Syrians are currently residing in Germany, after they were about 118,000 at the end of 2014.”