Youssef Kramo left the Syria in the middle of the war seeking safety in neighboring Turkey, but after the deadly earthquake that ravaged large areas in both countrieshe and thousands of his compatriots are returning home to the war zone – at least for now.

Benefiting from a promise by the Turkish authorities that they can stay up to six months in the rebel-held areas of northwestern Syria without losing the right to return to Turkey, many are rushing to see what happened to their relatives after the February 6 earthquake.

“I haven’t seen my family in four years and I live alone in Turkey“, said Kramo, after crossing into Syrian territory.

“The situation in Turkey is dire in the areas affected by the earthquake“, he added.

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

Kramo, who lived in Gaziantep, said people are now living in tents in the cold and rain. In addition to the harsh winter, Syrians also face hostility, he argued.

Even before the earthquake, the approx 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey they experienced the discomfort of some Turks who face the increased cost of living and sometimes blame these people for their economic hardship.

In Gaziantep, according to Kramos, the police removed the Syrians from a mosque where they had taken shelter to house Turkish families.

Many Turks in the earthquake affected areas they blame the Syrians for looting the destroyed houses and shops.

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

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

About 4 million people live in northwest Syria, which is controlled by Turkish-backed anti-regime fighters. 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 earthquake struck, said he decided to stay with his family in Idlib, Syria, until some normalcy returns to the city.

“There are major disasters and the situation is very difficult in Antakia. For a while, it looked like the end of the world had come“, he said.