The UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) and the REPUBLIC OF TURKEY PRIME MINISTRY DISASTER and EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PRESIDENCY (AFAD)
The UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) and the REPUBLIC OF TURKEY PRIME MINISTRY DISASTER and EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PRESIDENCY (AFAD)
UNHCR Turkey, 06 Mar 2013
URL: http://www.unhcr.org.tr/
On the day marking the one million Syrian refugees in the region, 6 March 2013, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Turkey and the Government of Turkey Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the coordinator body of the Government of Turkey in response to the Syria Emergency, have conducted a joint press conference to inform the Turkish community on the latest situation regarding the Syria Emergency in Turkey and also in the region.
The President of AFAD, Dr.Fuat Oktay and the Representative of UNHCR Turkey Ms. Carol Batchelor were present at the press conference.
The press conference gave opportunity to pass the message on the ongoing strong cooperation between the UN Refugee Agency and AFAD, also UNHCR to announce that the number of Syrians either registered as refugees or being assisted as such by UNHCR in the region has now reached the one million mark. AFAD have mentioned about the approach to support the Syrians at urban and thus parties have mentioned their strong will and commitment on cooperation on that new approach.
UNHCR’s Guterres: Syria refugees reach one million
Data received from UNHCR’s offices in the Syria region shows that the number of Syrians either registered as refugees or being assisted as such has now reached the one million mark.
“With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiraling towards full-scale disaster,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres. “We are doing everything we can to help, but the international humanitarian response capacity is dangerously stretched. This tragedy has to be stopped.”
The number of Syrian refugees fleeing their country has increased dramatically since the beginning of the year. Over 400,000 have become refugees since 1st January 2013. They arrive traumatized, without possessions and having lost members of their families. Around half of the refugees are children, the majority under the age of eleven. Most have fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Increasingly, Syrians are also fleeing to North Africa and Europe.
“This number translates into one million people who are dependent on the generosity of host countries, the response of humanitarian agencies and the financial support of governments and individuals,” said Guterres.
Guterres noted that the impact of this large number of refugees arriving in neighbouring countries is severe. Lebanon’s population has increased by as much as 10 per cent. Jordan’s energy, water, health and education services are being strained to the limit. Turkey has spent over US$600 million setting up 17 refugee camps, with more under construction. Iraq, juggling its own crisis with more than one million Iraqis internally displaced, has received over one hundred thousand Syrian refugees in the past year.
“These countries should not only be recognized for their unstinting commitment to keeping their borders open for Syrian refugees, they should be massively supported as well,” said Guterres.
In December, the UN’s Regional Response Plan for Syrian Refugees estimated that 1.1 million Syrian refugees would arrive in neighbouring countries by the end of June 2013. UNHCR is in the process adjusting this plan accordingly in light of the new figures. Currently, the plan is only approximately 25 per cent funded.
Absent a political solution to the conflict, Guterres said, “at a minimum, humanitarian actors should receive the funds needed to save lives and ease suffering.”
The Syria crisis will be two years old next week. High Commissioner Guterres will be travelling to the region later this week to visit UNHCR operations in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon.
The President of AFAD, Dr.Fuat Oktay and the Representative of UNHCR Turkey Ms. Carol Batchelor were present at the press conference.
The press conference gave opportunity to pass the message on the ongoing strong cooperation between the UN Refugee Agency and AFAD, also UNHCR to announce that the number of Syrians either registered as refugees or being assisted as such by UNHCR in the region has now reached the one million mark. AFAD have mentioned about the approach to support the Syrians at urban and thus parties have mentioned their strong will and commitment on cooperation on that new approach.
UNHCR’s Guterres: Syria refugees reach one million
Data received from UNHCR’s offices in the Syria region shows that the number of Syrians either registered as refugees or being assisted as such has now reached the one million mark.
“With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiraling towards full-scale disaster,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres. “We are doing everything we can to help, but the international humanitarian response capacity is dangerously stretched. This tragedy has to be stopped.”
The number of Syrian refugees fleeing their country has increased dramatically since the beginning of the year. Over 400,000 have become refugees since 1st January 2013. They arrive traumatized, without possessions and having lost members of their families. Around half of the refugees are children, the majority under the age of eleven. Most have fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Increasingly, Syrians are also fleeing to North Africa and Europe.
“This number translates into one million people who are dependent on the generosity of host countries, the response of humanitarian agencies and the financial support of governments and individuals,” said Guterres.
Guterres noted that the impact of this large number of refugees arriving in neighbouring countries is severe. Lebanon’s population has increased by as much as 10 per cent. Jordan’s energy, water, health and education services are being strained to the limit. Turkey has spent over US$600 million setting up 17 refugee camps, with more under construction. Iraq, juggling its own crisis with more than one million Iraqis internally displaced, has received over one hundred thousand Syrian refugees in the past year.
“These countries should not only be recognized for their unstinting commitment to keeping their borders open for Syrian refugees, they should be massively supported as well,” said Guterres.
In December, the UN’s Regional Response Plan for Syrian Refugees estimated that 1.1 million Syrian refugees would arrive in neighbouring countries by the end of June 2013. UNHCR is in the process adjusting this plan accordingly in light of the new figures. Currently, the plan is only approximately 25 per cent funded.
Absent a political solution to the conflict, Guterres said, “at a minimum, humanitarian actors should receive the funds needed to save lives and ease suffering.”
The Syria crisis will be two years old next week. High Commissioner Guterres will be travelling to the region later this week to visit UNHCR operations in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon.