Turkey’s Syria border crossings uncontrolled, says governor’s office

A crossing on Turkey’s border with Syria has gone out of control due to the flow of refugees, allowing outlawed groups to move freely between the two countries, according to a report prepared by the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa’s governor’s office, daily Milliyet has reported.

The border gate in Şanlıurfa’s Akçakale district has seen an increased flow of Syrian refugees in recent days due to clashes in Syria’s Rakka province and the situation at the crossing has become unmanageable, according to a report sent by Şanlıurfa governor’s office to the Security General Directorate.

Our border crossing has become uncontrolled due to the overloading and congestion. There is insufficient control over the passports as well as the boxes, bags and equipment people are carrying with them, said Milliyet’s Sept. 6 report.

The modernization of the Akçakale customs gate has reportedly not been accomplished and there is a security weakness for personnel in the event of a flow of refugees at the gate. The report also stated that ID checks, taking the necessary pictures, and conducting body searches cannot be done properly because of the volume of people.

The refugee camps in Şanlıurfa’s Akçakale and Harran districts are full, so the refugees who enter the border crossing are moving to several places across Turkey uncontrolled, with the help of their relatives.

The report also mentioned that the risk of terror leaks into the country has risen along with the uncontrolled gates.