By Nilay Kar Onum
ISTANBUL
Human rights group Amnesty International called on the Turkish government to allow all civilians seeking to leave Syria to enter though official border crossings, “regardless of whether they have valid passports or urgent medical needs,” in a new report released on Thursday.
“There should be open, regulated and sufficient numbers of geographically located entry points for refugees to enter Turkey,” Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International's researcher for Turkey said during a press conference in Istanbul.
“Turkey must change its border policies to ensure that refugees can access its territory safely,” the report said.
The report asks Turkey to “give clear instruction to border guards that any use of force must adhere strictly to international standards (…) and to implement training of police and military personnel operating in the border areas with Syria to ensure they can assist all persons in need of international protection.”
The situation of 1.3 million Syrians, who live outside the camps in Turkey -- was another focal point during the press conference.
The government hosts Syrians under temporary protection regulations, which enable “unlimited stay, protection against forcible returns and access to public and medical healthcare.”
“The most significant problem that people (who live outside the camps) face is very basic things (sic) such as access to adequate food and housing,” Amnesty International's researcher said.
Turkish officials have repeatedly been asking for the international community’s support.
Last month, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru had called on Western countries to share the burden of neighboring countries hosting millions of Syrians, during an interview with Anadolu Agency in Berlin.
“Western countries bear great responsibility. They should provide more assistance," Koru had said.
"This report is also our urgent call on the international community to finally to take action to live up their responsibilities for Syrian refugees in Turkey,” Andrew Gardner said during his speech.
An estimated 1.6 million Syrian refugees are currently being sheltered across Turkey, with 220,000 of them living in camps. According to country’s Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, the financial cost of Syrians’ presence on Turkish soil has reached $4.5 billion.
Syria has been gripped by almost constant fighting since the regime launched a violent crackdown in response to anti-government protests in March 2011, triggering a conflict which has spiraled into a civil war.
www.aa.com.tr/en
