Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: Germany grants emergency visas to some victims

Speaking to German daily Bild, Minister Faeser said: “This is urgent assistance. We want to allow Turkish or Syrian families in Germany to bring their loved ones home from the disaster area. their own without complicated procedures”.

According to Ms. Faeser, those who are eligible can have a “regular visa, which is issued quickly and is valid for three months”. She noted that this joint initiative with the German Foreign Ministry would allow victims to “find refuge and receive medical treatment” in Germany.

About 2.9 million people of Turkish descent live in Germany, with more than half holding Turkish citizenship. Meanwhile, the Syrian community in Germany is also huge, estimated at 924,000 people since former German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the border to refugees in 2015 and 2016.