Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey drops to 6,833

The number of Syrians who fled violence and took shelter in Turkey dropped to 6,833 on Tuesday, an official statement said. According to the statement released by the Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate, 35 Syrians crossed into Turkey on Sunday and Monday. A total of 16,624 Syrian citizens have crossed into Turkey so far and 9,791 of them have returned to their country, said the statement. Turkey has spent 12.75 million Turkish liras (about 7.17 million U.S. dollars) to provide shelter, food and medical assistance to the Syrian nationals. The Syrians are staying in six temporary tent-sites set up by the Turkish Red Crescent in the towns of Altinozu, Yayladagi and Reyhanli and the village of Apaydin in Turkey's southern province of Hatay.