Academic warns of integration problems due to low-skilled Syrians in Turkey

While 70 percent of Syrians in Germany are university graduates, only two percent of Syrians in Turkey are skilled workers, a senior academic at Hacettepe University's Migration and Politics Research Center has said, warning over the difficulties of integrating Syrians in the country.

Murat Erdo?an predicted that the number of Syrians in Turkey is forecast to exceed four million by 2026.

"We are talking about a Turkey where 45,000 Syrian babies are born every year. If we fail to manage this process it will be disastrous," he said, briefing a parliamentary sub-committee on refugee rights. 

Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an announced on his Twitter account that as of March 10, the official number of Syrian refugees who have fled to Turkey since the civil war broke out has reached 2,733,784. Of these refugees, 282,815 are being hosted at 26 camps around the country, he added.

Speaking at the parliamentary committee earlier in the week, Erdo?an said the total number of refugees in Turkey - including those from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq - was around 3,200,000. 

Over 52 percent of all refugees in Turkey are under 18, he added. 

"Over the last four years, a very sizable portion of these children have not had any schooling. We also know that the quality of schooling for those who have seen education is not very good. Some have been living in camps for four years. Supposedly they are being given Turkish courses, but many cannot even speak enough Turkish to be able to say their names," Erdo?an said. 

"Every day 125 babies are born. This number will increase and I think we will be talking about more than four million Syrians by 2026," he added, urging the authorities to take stronger measures to deal...