Turkey returns seven Syrian children under state care to Damascus

Turkish Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş traveled to Damascus to facilitate the voluntary return of seven Syrian children who were under state care in Turkey. The group, consisting of three girls and four boys, was handed over to Syrian authorities following social assessments that confirmed their family ties within Syria.

Accompanied by Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabavat and Turkish Ambassador Nuh Yılmaz, Göktaş visited the ‘Melody of Life’ orphanage in Damascus. The handover was conducted under a memorandum of understanding signed between the two nations in May.

Göktaş emphasized that the primary goal is to reunite children with their families in safe, loving environments. She noted that further groups of children will be returned in stages as social evaluations are completed. Both ministers indicated that bilateral cooperation will expand to include projects for women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.