On Thursday night, Turkish border guards opened fire on a group of civilians who were attempting to cross the border into Turkey in the western countryside of Ras al-Ayn (Serê Kaniyê), located in northeastern Syria’s Hasakah (Heseke) province. The incident resulted in the death of one civilian and the injury of three others.
After the incident, local residents managed to transport the injured individuals to the Ras al-Ayn Hospital, using their own vehicles, North Press Agency reported.
This is not the first instance in which Turkish border guards have used lethal force against individuals attempting to cross the border. Just earlier this month, a woman and a young man were also shot under similar circumstances in the countryside of Ras al-Ayn, further highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by those seeking passage into Turkey.
The latest Global Trends in Forced Displacement report released by the United Nations refugee agency revealed there were 108.4 million displaced individuals in 2022, with an alarming increase of 19.1 million from the previous year.
As a result of the protracted conflict, Syrians consist of the highest number of refugees with 6.5 million. Turkey currently hosts the largest refugee population worldwide, with nearly 3.6 million individuals seeking shelter there.
Human rights organisations and advocates have long voiced concerns about the treatment of individuals attempting to cross borders, emphasising the need for a more humane approach to border security.
