The German Minister of the Interior announced today, Saturday, that Berlin will facilitate the granting of 3-month visas to Syrians and Turks affected by the earthquake who have families in Germany.
“It is an emergency aid,” Nancy Weser told the German newspaper “Bild,” adding, “We want to allow Turkish and Syrian families in Germany to bring their relatives from the affected area without bureaucracy.”
Regarding this joint initiative by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, the minister added that residents of the earthquake-stricken areas – which left more than 25,000 dead – can thus obtain “regular visas that are quickly delivered and valid for 3 months.”
This simplified mechanism allows those affected to “find shelter and receive medical treatment” in Germany.
Turks and Syrians 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.”
