Youssef Kramo left Syria in the middle of a war looking for safety in the neighboring Turkeybut after the killer earthquake who have ravaged large areas in both countries, he and thousands of his compatriots are returning home to the war zone – at least for the moment.

With Turkish authorities promising they can stay up to six months in rebel-held areas of northwestern Syria without losing their right to return to Turkey, many are rushing to see what happened to their families after the February 6 earthquake.

“I haven’t seen my family for four years and I live alone in Turkey,” Kramo said after crossing Syrian territory. “The situation in Turkey in the areas affected by the earthquake is deplorable,” he added.

Authorities have not announced how many people crossed into Syria through the Bab Hammam checkpoint. 4,600 people have entered Syria through the Bab al-Hawa checkpoint since the initiative was announced on Wednesday.

“I decided to return and live in my country”

Kramo, who lived in Gaziantep, said people now live in tents in the cold and rain. In addition to the harsh winter, Syrians also face hostility, he said. Even before the earthquake, some 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey felt uncomfortable with some Turks who face the increased cost of living and sometimes blame these people for their economic woes.

In Gaziantep, according to Kramos, the police escorted the Syrians out of the mosque where they had taken refuge to accommodate Turkish families. Many Turks in the earthquake-hit areas accuse the Syrians of looting damaged houses and shops.

“The situation for the Syrians is very difficult,” he said.

Mansour Hammoud, who lived in Iskenderun, said he slept in the park after his house was destroyed. “I decided to return and live in my country. Dead or alive, I prefer to be with my family,” he added.

Some 4 million people live in northwestern Syria, which is controlled by Turkish-backed anti-regime militants. The United Nations says most of these people were dependent on humanitarian aid even before the earthquake.

Anas Haj Kadro, who was in Antakya when the quake hit, said he decided to stay with his family in Idlib, Syria until some normal life returns to the city. “Major disasters are happening and the situation in Antakya is very difficult. For a while, it seemed like the end of the world had come,” he said.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}