(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Turkey on Sunday began accepting onto its territory Syrian refugees fleeing the battle between Kurds and Islamic State (IS) jihadists for the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, an AFP photographer said.
Dozens of Syrian refugees, many carrying sacks of possessions, started passing through the Akcakale border gate onto Turkish territory as thousands more awaited their turn to cross on other side.
Turkey had for several days been blocking the Syrians from Turkey, saying it would only allow them to enter the country in the event of a humanitarian tragedy.
However local officials in Akcakale said earlier that permission had been received from Ankara to allow the refugees to enter Turkey.
The decision came as Kurdish forces advanced on Tal Abyad, which is controlled by IS jihadists who have captured swathes of Syria and Iraq.
A delay followed which Turkish television said was due to the IS jihadists impeding the refugees from crossing on the other side of the border.
Amid chaotic scenes, some Syrians managed to push their way through the border fences away from the actual Akcakale border gate to cross illegally into Turkey.
The army immediately used water cannon and tear gas in a bid to restore control.
However in the early evening, the Turkish authorities opened the Akcakale border gate itself and the refugees began to enter in an orderly fashion.
Many had relatives already waiting for them on the other side.
Under an "open-door" policy championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has taken in 1.8 million Syrian refugees since the conflict in Syria erupted in 2011.
The Turkish government has over recent months expressed increasing bitterness that it has been left to shoulder the burden of refugees while the West stands by.
The government said in April it has spent almost $5.5 billion (4.8 billion euros) to provide for Syrian refugees.
Before the closure of the border last week, Turkey had taken in over 13,500 Syrian refugees escaping the fighting for Tal Abyad, officials said.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.