Several Turkish agencies plan a new aid campaign for Syrians as the civil war approaches its third anniversary in March.
Among other partners, relief group Turkish Red Crescent, Anadolu Agency, and labor union Memur-Sen will join forces for the campaign, coordinated by the Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management (AFAD).
Fuad Oktay, head of AFAD, praised Turkey's 'open-door policy' at an organizing dinner held Monday in capital Ankara.
"We have not only opened our homes to Syrians, but also our hearts. We act with the same level of sincerity now,” said Oktay.
He noted that the expenses Turkey has made for Syrian shelter-seekers living in camps in its south have exceeded 2 billion dollars in total.
Syria has been under the shadow of civil war since a popular uprising in March, 2011. The ensuing fighting has killed over 100,000 people, displaced millions and left the country in ruins.
Turkey hosts well over 200,000 Syrians in camps, with hundreds of thousands more living in city centers.
The campaign is significant as it marks a collaboration between government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Monday’s meeting was attended by Chairman of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Serdar Cam, Anadolu Agency Director-General and Chairman of the Board Kemal Ozturk, Director General of Turkish Red Crescent Mehmet Gulluoglu, and head of International Rabia Platform Cihangir Isbilir, among other officials from the government and NGOs.
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