Turkey vows to help Syrians
- 12 years ago
They may have fled Syria with their families, but these children in the Turkish Boynuyogun refugee camp can still make time to play.
About 12,000 refugees are registered in six camps across Turkey's Hatay province near the Syrian border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) HEAD OF TURKISH RED CRESCENT TEAM AT BOYNUYOGUN CAMP NAZMI ERTAN SAYING:
"For the time being, 1,750 Syrians are lodged in 548 tents at Boynuyogun camp. As the Turkish Red Crescent, we assist them in all humanitarian issues, we provide them with food, cleaning products, and hygiene kits."
In an interview with Reuters, the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated his country's pledge to help people fleeing the violence in Syria.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU SAYING:
"From the first day we said that all Syrians-- brothers and sisters who are escaping from oppression-- they will be our guests. And now we have around 12,000."
But many Syrians are aching to return home, or go somewhere different they can finally call home.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE MUHAMMAD AMRO SAYING:
"I am waiting because maybe we might return back to our country. If we can't go back maybe I want to ask any country to take us."
Once a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has now strongly condemned his government's bloody crackdown - which the U.N. says has claimed over 5,000 lives - and called for him to step down.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
ANY
About 12,000 refugees are registered in six camps across Turkey's Hatay province near the Syrian border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) HEAD OF TURKISH RED CRESCENT TEAM AT BOYNUYOGUN CAMP NAZMI ERTAN SAYING:
"For the time being, 1,750 Syrians are lodged in 548 tents at Boynuyogun camp. As the Turkish Red Crescent, we assist them in all humanitarian issues, we provide them with food, cleaning products, and hygiene kits."
In an interview with Reuters, the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated his country's pledge to help people fleeing the violence in Syria.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU SAYING:
"From the first day we said that all Syrians-- brothers and sisters who are escaping from oppression-- they will be our guests. And now we have around 12,000."
But many Syrians are aching to return home, or go somewhere different they can finally call home.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE MUHAMMAD AMRO SAYING:
"I am waiting because maybe we might return back to our country. If we can't go back maybe I want to ask any country to take us."
Once a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has now strongly condemned his government's bloody crackdown - which the U.N. says has claimed over 5,000 lives - and called for him to step down.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
ANY