4 million refugees sheltering in Turkey
Mustafa Bag for Euronews said, "Dr. Kerem Kinik, the President of the Turkish Red Crescent. Welcome to Euronews... Tens of thousands of people had to leave their homes in Afrin. How does the Turkish Red Crescent help those people? What kind of support do you provide for them?"
Dr. Kerem Kinik, President of the Red Crescent in Turkey said, "Before the Olive Branch operation, we prepared ourselves for the possible influx of immigrants specially in Idlib and Azaz regions. The main part of the preparation was the construction of refugee camps, so we did that. We have created these facilities. However, at the time, especially when the operation had started, YPG/PYD and Syrian regime forces did not allow civilians to leave for Idlib and Azaz regions nor Aleppo. But we regularly continue with our humanitarian aid to this region."
Mustafa Bag for Euronews said, "This is what I wanted to ask actually. -How many people are you taking care of inside Syria? How many Syrians are living in Turkey and how many of them are supported by the Red Crescent?"
Dr. Kerem Kinik, President of the Red Crescent in Turkey said, "There are around 4 million refugees sheltering in Turkey so far. In other words, we are hosting 4 million people who have left their homes for the fear of death. At least 3.5 million of them are Syrians. We, as the Turkish Red Crescent, provide 1.3 million of them with cash through the Red Crescent Card in Turkey. We are hosting 250 thousand refugees in over 30 refugee camps. Also we regularly provide educational scholarships to 250 thousand Syrian children. As well as this, the Ministry of Health gives health services free of charge to the entire Syrian people in Turkey. Till now more than 40 million patients have been checked free at hospitals. Nearly 1.5 million operations have been done free of charge and about 200,000 babies were born in our hospitals. All of these have survived and were provided free of charge in the health care system."
Mustafa Bag for Euronews said, "As the Turkish Red Crescent President, do you get enough support from the European Union? How & where do you use these funds that you receive from the EU."
Dr. Kerem Kinik, President of the Red Crescent in Turkey said, "The Red Crescent receives serious support through ECHO, the humanitarian aid office of the European Union. I can say that we are managing the greatest amount of these funds that the European Union has given so far. Also another 3 billion euros are being discussed between Brussels and Ankara."