Refugee crisis and Turkey

For the last week, I have been reading myself into a fury so I hope you will forgive me a bit of a rant.  I usually avoid any controversial topics and I am still not planning to give my political views or my personal take on the problems; I just want to put some facts out there.

As of March 2016 there are 2.7 MILLION SYRIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY.

To compare, up to December 2015, JUST UNDER 900,000 Syrians had applied for asylum in all 37 European countries reporting to UNHCR.

There are a further 300,000 refugees in Turkey from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

This makes Turkey THE BIGGEST REFUGEE-HOSTING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

About 280,000 refugees are housed in 25 camps, many in solid trailer accommodation though more recently it has been necessary to build tent camps.

I am quite aware that living in a refugee camp would not be anyone’s choice BUT…

…the camps in Turkey have paved roads, street lights, water (private bathrooms in the trailers, shared in the tent camps), electricity, schools and clinics, cleaning and maintenance staff and police and private security.  Laundry is done free-of-charge (residents volunteer in the laundry) and food is purchased at supermarkets with debit cards given to residents (80tl per person per week for food).  There are also hair salons, sewing rooms, playgrounds and other amenities.

The remaining refugees live outside the camps.  Once registered they have access to healthcare and education, though they are not currently able to work legally. Many are working in the informal sector – I have had dealings this winter with several Syrians working in construction.  I have heard some complaints about the refugees, especially in places like Istanbul and Ankara where the streets are full of families begging, but I would say the majority of the population are sympathetic and accepting.

And this acceptance, despite the fact that Turkey has so far spent an estimated $7 BILLION on the Syrian refugees, yes - $7,000,000,000.

By contrast, Turkey has so far received total international assistance of approximately $400 million, not even half a billion.

Turkey has actually received praise for its response to the crisis from official sources, including the UN refugee agency.

But the popular press, with its usual negative attitude to Turkey, makes it sound as though Turkey is both heartless – closing the Syrian border and allowing refugees to drown in the Med – and mercenary – “holding the EU to ransom” and demanding money before they will do anything.

There are certainly things that could be done better but it is wrong to ignore all the positive things. I just want to say...
…STOP talking about Turkey as though it is part of the problem; this time, it is part of the solution.