ReliefWeb: Updates by Country

23.04.2024 01:50 Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Congo, Egypt, Iran , Iraq, Liberia, Morocco, occupied Palestinian territory, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, World, Yemen Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Overview of Migrant Presence in Türkiye According to the latest available figures from the Turkish Presidency of Migration Management , there are more than 4.5 million foreign nationals present in Türkiye, 3.4 million of whom are seeking international protection. Most are Syrians individuals) who have been granted temporary protection status. In addition, international protection holders from countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Ukraine constitute another group of foreign nationals. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , there were 296,685 refugees and asylum-seekers in Türkiye as of 2023. Moreover in 2023, according to PMM, there were 19,017 international protection applicants in the country, a figure released by PMM annually. In addition, there are 1,129,958 foreign nationals present in Türkiye, holding residence permits. Compared to March 2023, this is a decrease of 204,192 individuals. Data retrieved from on 15.04.2024 Data retrieved from on 15.04.2024 Data retrieved from on 15.04.2024 Data retrieved from on 15.04.2024 For further information, please see: MPM Migrant Presence Monitoring - Situation Report

19.04.2024 19:11 Country: Türkiye Source: European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations A 5.7 M earthquake at a depth of 10 km occurred on 18 April at 15.11 UTC in the western part of Tokat Province in northern Türkiye. The epicentre was located approximately 9 km west of Sulusaray Town in Sulusaray District . According to USGS PAGER, up to 3,000 people were exposed to very strong shaking and 20,000 to strong shaking. According to media as of 19 April, two buildings have been destroyed and several others have been damaged in Sulusaray District. The earthquake was felt in Samsun, Çankiri, Çorum, Yozgat and Sivas Provinces in northern Türkiye.

19.04.2024 03:00 Country: Türkiye Source: European Commission Please refer to the attached file. Minister of Health Dr Fahrettin Koca and European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides met in Ankara on 18 April for the second EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on Health. The first High-Level Dialogue on Health was held on 30 November 2021. As demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting reiterated the importance of cooperation in the area of health between the EU and Türkiye, as an EU candidate country. During the meeting, Minister Koca and Commissioner Kyriakides discussed collaboration on cross-border health threats, the fight against cancer, the impact of climate change on public health and mental health. Both the EU and Türkiye noted the importance of these shared priorities for citizens. In this context, it was also noted that close cooperation between the parties is important for the prevention, preparedness, and response to cross-border health threats. The EU and Türkiye share common priorities in the fight against cancer, which affects both individual health and the quality of life of patients and their loved ones. Furthermore, it has social and other consequences. Discussions were held on enhancing cooperation between the parties, with a view to ensuring further positive results in tackling cancer at all stages. Regarding the impact of climate change on public health, which is a global issue, both sides agreed that collaboration is essential. Measures against natural disasters and to manage existing and emerging risks would contribute significantly to preventing and responding rapidly to new health threats related to climate change. Mental health was also on the agenda of the Dialogue. Both sides exchanged information on respective initiatives, noting the impact of determinants of health such as education, digitalisation, environment, and climate on mental health. Minister Koca expressed his gratitude towards Commissioner Kyriakides for her visit and highlighted that the EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on Health meetings will strengthen the collaboration between the EU and Türkiye in the field of health and have a positive impact on the work already carried out in different areas. Following the meeting, Minister Koca and Commissioner Kyriakides acknowledged the significance of the High-Level Dialogue on Health in fostering further cooperation between the EU and Türkiye. It was agreed to convene the next dialogue meeting in 2025.

14.04.2024 21:00 Countries: Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. In Numbers 44,629 people received cash assistance in February 2024 . USD 0.4 million distributed through in-camp value vouchers and USD 0.2 million through livelihoods cash assistance USD 5.3 m six-month net funding requirements Operational Updates In February, under the In-camp E-voucher Programme, WFP and the Turkish Red Crescent assisted 42,501 beneficiaries in seven refugee camps with an e-voucher of Turkish lira 300 per person per month. o As part of the Presidency of Migration Management’s strategy to reduce camp population, Apaydin camp in Hatay was closed in February due to inadequate facilities and the most vulnerable residents were transferred to Adana camp. PMM also informed WFP of its plans to close the Boynuyogun camp in Hatay in the near future. o WFP is currently formulating a new project to support voluntary relocation of camp residents to urban areas through resilience-building activities and multipurpose cash assistance to households wishing to resettle in urban areas in stages. o WFP is exploring options to provide multi-purpose cash assistance to Hilalkent camp in Hatay, which is run by the Governor’s Office and houses Syrian refugees affected by the earthquake. The assistance will target refugees who are ineligible for Social Security Net assistance. In February, WFP launched its Earthquake Recovery Programme in three of the five provinces most affected by the February 2023 earthquakes: Hatay, Adiyaman, and Kahramanmaras. o Five field level agreements were signed with INGO and NGO cooperating partners in Hatay. Four agreements are under development: three with governmental partners and one for a joint project with FAO to start in April, which will scale up to the non-covered provinces. In each targeted province, strategic investments are made to restore key value chains and support their revitalization beyond preearthquake: o In Kahramanmaras, WFP and partners support the restoration of the dairy and livestock value chain, with focus on rural actors. o In Hatay, WFP supports the restoration of the fresh fruit and vegetable value chain. Significant progress was made in the development of a concept note for a large-scale cold storage facility which would reduce garment) courses in Adana, Bursa, Malatya and Sanliurfa. Meanwhile 388 participants took part in the applied training programme , enabling some 2,128 people to benefit from the Programme indirectly. ATP places VT graduates into jobs to gain practical experience and become familiar with the sector, all while earning a minimum wage. WFP’s partners for the SES Programme include the Turkish Employment Agency , Support to Life , International Migration and Solidarity Association and chambers of commerce and industry in the targeted provinces. Since 2021, the programme has trained 5,939 people, and so far, 50 percent of VT graduates have found employment

11.04.2024 14:30 Country: Türkiye Source: World Bank Please refer to the attached file. New World Bank Group Partnership Framework for Türkiye to Focus on Productivity Growth, Jobs and Resilience Against Natural Disasters WASHINGTON, April 11, 2024 – The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors announced a new which will focus on three key development strategies – productivity growth, jobs and better public service delivery, and resilience against natural disasters. The new Türkiye CPF, which will cover the FY2024-28 period, is aimed at supporting the country’s transition to high-income status. A key focus, thus, is on the development of the country’s private sector to improve firms’ ability to upgrade to higher value-added and high-technology activities. The Framework reflects the strong and growing collaboration between Türkiye and the Group’s institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. The Group expects to deliver $18 billion during this CPF period, adding to the current country portfolio of $17 billion, which is the WBG’s third largest country program. *“Türkiye has made tremendous progress in the last two decades, significantly raising living standards for its people, developing modern infrastructure, and integrating its economy into the global economy and global value chains,” *said Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Türkiye. “The new CPF will build on this progress and leverage the combined strength of the World Bank Group to support Türkiye as it continues its remarkable development journey. Key areas of future support include the government’s energy transition plan and strategic infrastructure.” The WBG will focus on selected challenges under three broad areas: High and sustainable productivity growth: The focus will be on promoting climate-smart agriculture to strengthen resilience against climate change and bolster food security; greening the industrial sector to reduce carbon emissions and maintain trade competitiveness; supporting economic recovery in areas affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. Inclusive services and jobs: To address income and other inequalities, the focus will be to improve jobs for women, youth and vulnerable groups; reduce disparities in health and education access and quality; and support resilient municipal infrastructure and services. Strengthen resilience against natural disasters: To help protect Türkiye’s people and economy, the World Bank Group will prioritize disaster resilience and preparedness, management of natural resources and the transition to clean energy. The CPF also emphasizes the need to accelerate digitalization, vital for boosting productivity and public service delivery. The WBG will work across many fronts to accelerate the use of digital technology, including improving the digital business ecosystem, supporting seismic and climate-resilient urban planning, extending hybrid education opportunities and improving financial inclusion. “Türkiye’s dynamic private sector and entrepreneurial spirit have played key roles in its impressive growth over the last several years,” said Wiebke Schloemer, Director for Türkiye and Central Asia at the International Finance Corporation. “As the CPF highlights, the priorities going forward are clear – to build resilience, drive the country’s green transition, and ensure no one is left behind on that journey. IFC will continue to work to unleash the Turkish private sector’s vast potential through strategic investments and advisory services and by mobilizing private capital to drive strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth.” *“MIGA has been a reliable partner in supporting Türkiye’s dynamic private sector and the government’s sustainable infrastructure initiatives,” *saidMoritz Nikolaus Nebe, Acting Director of Economics and Sustainability at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. “As part of the new CPF, MIGA will be excited to leverage the new World Bank Group guarantee platform to assist the country in attracting and mobilizing private capital, including to support the development of green and sustainable infrastructure, fostering resilient growth.” The new CPF, discussed and endorsed by the WBG Board on April 9, 2024, is anchored in Türkiye’s 12th National Development Plan 2024-28 and aligned with the WBG’s strategic approach of achieving impacts and outcomes at scale, tackling global challenges and mobilizing private capital. In preparation, the WBG consulted with key stakeholder groups, including the government, the private sector, civil society, think tanks, academia, and other development partners. PRESS RELEASE NO: 2024/ECA/087 Contacts In Ankara: Tunya Celasin +90-312-4598343 In Washington: Indira Chand +1 376-7491

10.04.2024 05:12 Country: Türkiye Source: Community Organized Relief Effort Please refer to the attached file. On February 6, 2023, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria, following by numerous aftershocks. The Turkish areas of Hatay, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya were the hardest hit. Immense infrastructure damage—including roads, medical centers, and houses—over 108,000 injured persons, over 50,000 deaths, and displacement of around three million people altogether left communities devastated and in need of humanitarian assistance. Prior to the earthquakes, Turkey was already hosting approximately 3.5 million Syrian refugees1, many of whom were displaced again. The economic cost of the earthquake was estimated at $104 billion USD with devastating effects on the labor market and businesses. CORE swiftly responded, mobilizing within a week to assess and address critical needs across the affected region. Cash and Voucher Assistance are CORE’s preferred modalities of response, whenever context allows. CORE collaborated with the Turkey Disaster and Emergency Management Authority , the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and two established local NGOs, YSYD and IHSAN Relief and Development . CORE and its partners responded with food vouchers, ready-to-eat meal kits, hygiene kits and kitchen sets, and implemented one of the first early recovery initiatives delivering business grants and training to small businesses in Hatay Province. This learning brief focuses specifically on lessons pertaining to CORE’s small business recovery support to 58 business owners located in the Hassa business park, which was implemented from May 15 to September 30, 2023, and includes recommendations for scaling in this context.

08.04.2024 11:10 Countries: Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached files. Why the Guidance Notes? The 3RP Protection Sector Indicator Guidance Note has been developed by the National Protection Working Group to facilitate reporting via ActivityInfo for partners in the protection sector. The guidance notes aim to address inconsistencies in reporting by clarifying language used within the indicators, as well as when and where to report on the indicator. The Guidance Note was prepared in consideration of the questions received by the sector IM Officer in relation to the sector indicators. The Guidance Note is an acknowledgement of the importance of reliable data in the sector; data that will be used throughout the year to measure strategic progress in the field of protection and to course-correct when needed

04.04.2024 21:40 Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye Source: European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Please refer to the attached Map.

04.04.2024 13:00 Country: Türkiye Sources: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies, Turkish Red Crescent Society, World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. Following the devastating earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye in February 2023, the UN WFP and Türk Kızılay collaborated on a study using the Minimum Expenditure Basket¹ methodology and analysis. This paper intended to support earthquake response efforts by evaluating and measuring basic needs. Despite the time has passed since these catastrophic earthquakes, relief efforts continue in the most affected regions. According to pre-earthquake population data and field assessments, the average earthquake-affected household comprises five individuals, including two children and three adults. The food segment of the Minimum Expenditure Basket covers expenses related to a nutritionally balanced diet, while costs associated with health, shelter, education, transportation, and communication are calculated according to Sphere standards. The monthly calculations are using Consumption Price Index data provided by the TURKSTAT. In February 2024, the cost of the Minimum Expenditure Basket increased by 5.65 percent compared to January 2024, reaching 2,648 TRY per individual and 13,239 TRY for a household of five. This increase was mainly due to higher costs in two key components of the MEB: Food and Rent. Food expenditure increased by 6.31 percent, while rent expenditure increased by 7.06 percent during the same period. In addition, the annual inflation rate continued to rise, reaching 67.07 percent, with a monthly inflation rate of 4.53 percent.

03.04.2024 20:01 Countries: Afghanistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye, Ukraine Source: Turkish Red Crescent Society Please refer to the attached files. Abstract This study aims to identify irregular migration mobility within the concept of migration, its sub-causes and consequences, its risks for host and origin countries, and to research its effects in Türkiye, one of the largest irregular migration routes in the world, with a special focus on migrant children. In this migration mobility which has a dynamic and political agenda-driven character, the number of not only forced migrants but also the smugglers who take advantage of desperation of these people has been increasing day by day. This rising trend of the irregular migration flows calls for tightening mechanisms to combat irregular migration on a global scale. In this context, it has become important to reinforce further the legal measures to better protect displaced migrants and border security. As the research methodology, a combination of methods were used. For the fieldwork part of the research, in-depth interviews were conducted and recorded with professional staff in the field of child protection and access to education at TRCS Community Centers in the selected provinces. In addition, the research included a questionnaire on migrant child labor and irregular migration, which was administered to all Protection and Cohesion Program field staff via the Kobotoolbox platform. Following the questionnaire responses and the semi-structured interviews with sample group, the qualitative research method was followed by interpreting the observations and experiences. Further, evaluations were made in light of quantitative data on vulnerability risks and case intervention stages, collected from the Case Software of Community Centers, contributing to the research. A literature review was also conducted in order to gain insight from the current data and academic research on irregular migration and child protection in the world and in Türkiye. This research will identify the rights violations and potential risks which children in irregular-migrant households without registered identification are exposed to, and evaluate their impact on child labor. Keywords: Migration, Irregular Migration, Child Protection, Child Neglect, Child Labor

03.04.2024 03:34 Countries: Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. Overview The global economic downturn and inflation, the spillover effects of the Ukraine conflict, and the two massive earthquakes in the southeast near the Syrian border made 2023 a challenging year for Türkiye. The two strong earthquakes, registered as the worst earthquake disaster in the country’s history, hit southeastern Türkiye on 6 February 2023 claiming more than 50,000 lives and leaving 3.3 million people homeless . The soaring cost of living in 2023, worsened by the earthquakes' socio-economic impacts, had a detrimental effect on all communities, with the most significant impact on disadvantaged households who encountered increased protection risks, compounded by limited employment prospects and escalating poverty levels. The rise in food prices and the consequent decline in purchasing power hampered efforts to achieve zero hunger. A decade after the conflict in Syria erupted, Türkiye continues to be home to the world’s largest refugee population of around 3.7 million people . Out of them, 3.4 million are Syrian, mostly women and children. Syrian refugees have the right to work in Türkiye, but they face many obstacles that keep them out of the labour market. These include language, education, skills, and employers’ reluctance to get work permits for them. These constraints expose refugees to the dangers of informal work and threaten their food security. The large number of refugees in Türkiye has exerted considerable strain on public resources, services, and social cohesion. Poverty is a significant issue for refugees, who continue to rely on social assistance for survival. Under the new Country Strategic Plan approved in November 2022, WFP Türkiye maintained its support to the Government in offering life-saving food assistance to refugees and host communities, and enhancing their self-reliance. In this respect, WFP works with government partners, United Nations agencies and civil society under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for Türkiye to improve the living conditions of Syrian refugees and host communities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Across the year, WFP in-camp e-voucher programme in collaboration with the Turkish Red Crescent , assisted over 64,000 refugees including around 2,700 Ukrainians in seven camps in the southeast with a monthly assistance of 300 Turkish lira per person. The Presidency of Migration Management adopted a camp decongestion strategy which involves closing some of the camps and consolidating vulnerable refugee households with special needs in Adana camp. The camp residents were supported by PMM to settle in urban areas or move back to Syria. WFP started talks with PMM to explore the potential of including other earthquake affected Syrian settlements in the programme. Within the first 48 hours of the twin earthquakes, WFP launched an emergency response, under the umbrella of the UN Türkiye earthquake flash appeal , which reached over 2.2 million earthquake-affected Turkish nationals and refugees with food and cash assistance. WFP’s extensive network of partnerships, Government, local actors and UN agencies enabled a swift assistance ramp-up inside and outside the camps. Around 1.6 million affected people received food assistance consisting of family food packages inside camps and cooked meals and ready-to-eat rations in urban areas. WFP and its partners also provided seven mobile kitchens to municipalities and governorates. This assistance was vital at the onset of the response considering the extensive damage and impacts on markets. In parallel, WFP and Turkish Red Crescent extended the e-voucher assistance to over 98,000 earthquake-affected Turkish citizens and Syrian refugees registered outside the camps as well as refugees from other nationalities , who took shelter in WFP-assisted camps. Robust donors support enabled WFP to increase the monthly value of the e-voucher in camps from 230 Turkish lira per person to TRY 555 per person or TRY 2,500 per household during the earthquake emergency response. This amount covered around 97 percent of the food basket cost estimated at TRY 572 in December 2022. As markets resumed functioning, WFP provided multi-purpose cash under the "Collective Kindness" initiative during the months of April, May and August, in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, TRC, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies . Aimed at empowering families with the choice to address their essential food and non-food needs in local markets, while helping boost market recovery, the initiative benefitted over 700,000 Turkish and Syrian refugees in host communities in 12 provinces with TRY 8,600 per household. Out of them, 27 percent were under the age of 18 and 50 percent were women and girls. In 2023, WFP strengthened its partnerships with the Government at national, provincial and local levels across the emergency and post-emergency response, along with the humanitarian stakeholders and UN agencies. In support of the earthquake response, WFP co-led the Emergency Telecommunications Sector response, together with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to extend data connectivity to humanitarian hubs. It also established a ‘logistics sector coordination mechanism’ to provide inter-agency coordination, information sharing and support the humanitarian community with transportation services, functional warehouses and storage solutions. WFP continued to support the shift from humanitarian assistance to self-reliance through dignified employment opportunities under the Socioeconomic Empowerment and Sustainability Programme via vocational and on-the-job training to equip vulnerable refugees and host communities with the necessary skills to access long-term employment. During the period of April to November 2023, WFP implemented an early recovery cash for work initiative which placed 600 earthquake-affected people in jobs to help them restore their livelihoods. Türkiye remained also a strategic food supply partner for WFP at both global and regional levels, evidenced by the food commodities worth USD 133 million that WFP bought from the country in 2023. It played a prominent geopolitical role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, negotiated in July 2022 with the UN and Russia which enabled WFP to ship around 750,000 mt of Ukrainian grain to countries facing the worst food crises such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.

02.04.2024 02:10 Countries: Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye Source: Human Rights Watch Please refer to the attached files. No Access to Livelihoods; Dangerous Smuggling to Reach other Areas of Syria – authorities are deporting or otherwise pressuring thousands of Syrians to leave the country to Tel Abyad, a remote Turkish-occupied district of northern where humanitarian conditions are dire, Human Rights Watch said today. Between January and June 2023, the Tel Abyad border crossing administration published monthly or daily numbers of Syrian returnees on its Facebook page, labeling all as voluntary. An analysis of the page reveals an over twofold increase compared to the same period in 2022. While Türkiye in the past maintained that all returns are voluntary, Human Rights Watch research has that Turkish forces have, since at least 2017, arrested, detained, and summarily deported thousands of Syrian refugees, often coercing them into signing “voluntary” return forms and forcing them to cross into northern Syria. Turkish authorities did not respond to a letter Human Rights Watch sent on February 1 sharing research findings and requesting information. “Türkiye’s ‘voluntary’ returns are often coerced returns to ‘safe zones’ that are pits of danger and despair,” said , deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Türkiye's pledge to create ‘safe zones’ rings hollow as Syrians find themselves forced to embark on perilous journeys to escape the inhumane conditions in Tel Abyad.” Human Rights Watch has seen border crossing statistics from Türkiye into Syria provided by an informed source, revealing discrepancies with data published on the official Facebook pages of the three operational border crossing administrations in categorizing returns. The statistics provided reveal that between January and December 2023, Turkish authorities deported 57,519 Syrians and others over its border crossings, including 16,652 through the Tel Abyad crossing. Analysis of official page data show variations in reporting practices, with one crossing, Bab al-Hawa, distinguishing between returnees and deportees, which match the statistics shared with Human Rights Watch, while the Bab al-Salama and Tel Abyad crossings do not. According to the informed source, staff at all three border administrations interview every returnee and collect data, including on reason for return, but Turkish officials have successfully pressured the Bab al-Salama and Tel Abyad border administrations not to publish deportation numbers. This has left Bab al-Salama, since at least September 2022, categorizing all returns as simply “returns” and Tel Abyad, since at least January 2021, categorizing all returns as “voluntary.” Before September 2022, Bab al-Salama used to publish how many of the overall returns were voluntary. Tel Abyad stopped publishing data on returns in June 2023. In 2023, Türkiye increased the number of Syrians it sends back via Tel Abyad, which has been under the control of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army since 2019. Türkiye says it aims to turn areas of northern Syria under its control, including Tel Abyad, into “safe zones,” but in reality, these areas are rife with human rights abuses. Türkiye’s incursion into the 150 kilometer-long strip of land between Raqqa and al-Hasakeh provinces displaced hundreds of thousands of people, forcing them to flee their homes. In May 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a plan to create a “safe zone” in the Turkish-occupied territories of northern Syria and build homes to accommodate up to one million Syrians living in Türkiye. A Human Rights Watch published on February 29 documented serious human rights abuses and potential war crimes committed primarily by Türkiye-backed local armed groups in these lawless and insecure areas. Human Rights Watch also found that members of the Turkish Armed Forces and intelligence agencies were involved in carrying out and overseeing abuses. Human Rights Watch interviewed seven deportees sent to Tel Abyad, a human rights researcher, a border crossing official, the president of a local group in Tel Abyad hosting deportees, and a journalist. Six deportees said that they held a Turkish temporary protection ID permit when they lived in Türkiye, which should Syrian refugees legally against forced return to Syria.Six said they were forced or coerced to sign “voluntary” return forms. All said they were from other regions of Syria and had no meaningful ties to Tel Abyad. One said that Turkish police detained him on the street in Antakya one month after his wife and three children were killed in the February 2023 earthquake that devastated parts of southern Türkiye and northern Syria. He said that the authorities detained him on his way to work even though he held a valid protection ID. “They made me sign on documents written in Turkish, and I don’t speak Turkish,” he said. “They wouldn’t translate it. They are obliging us to sign these documents to make it look like voluntary returns.” All seven deportees said that Turkish authorities did not ask them their preferred border crossing for their return. Two said the deportations separated them from family members. “My wife and two kids are still in Istanbul, and I have no relatives and nowhere to go here and cannot bring them back to Syria,” said one man originally from Deir Ezzor. “I am trapped here.” As a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Türkiye is duty-bound not to separate children from their parents against their will except where competent authorities have determined that separation is necessary for the best interests of that child. Since Tel Abyad came under Turkish occupation in 2019, it has had no operating crossing points to other parts of Syria, leaving expensive and dangerous smuggling routes the only viable option to leave the border strip. Four deportees said they had used smugglers to reach other non-government-held areas of northern Syria. “I faced many hardships on my way,” said a 28-year-old deportee who was smuggled. “We were sure it was either we live, or we die. I left Tel Abyad at 8 a.m., and I arrived 30 hours later to my destination.” One said he hoped to find a way to return to Türkiye: “I am from Deir Ezzor but I can't go there. I don't have anything left in Syria. I can't go to my city at all.” An aid worker whose organization provides temporary shelter to deportees in Tel Abyad said that economic conditions in the region were poor. He said that residents struggled to find jobs, and many had to rely on subsistence agriculture. Many deportees have been forced to rely on limited external assistance. “I try to survive on one meal per day here, if by any chance I was able to secure the expenses for it,” one said. “Most of the days, we sleep hungry.” The aid worker said that his organization, the Al Bir Society for Social Services in Tel Abyad, hosts about 40 deportees a day and sheltered 1,500 total between June and December. “The organization’s capacity remains limited,” he said. He said that the deportees sleep in dire conditions as there is not enough space. One 22-year-old deportee originally from Idlib said: “When there is no place left for us , we sleep on the streets of Tel Abyad or in nearby mosques.” The lack of access to other parts of Syria has compelled some deportees to turn to expensive and dangerous smuggling routes to escape the harsh conditions of Tel Abyad. Deportees who have had to use dangerous smuggling routes said that there is unofficial cooperation between smugglers and the Syrian National Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces , which control the borders of the enclave. They said it costs between US$300 and $500 to be smuggled to another region in Syria, and more than $1,000 to be smuggled back to Türkiye. They said safety is a serious concern. “If someone is trying to leave through smugglers, one of the parties may arrest them on suspicion of being an agent or spy, which might land him in jail,” said the aid worker. Informed sources said that Turkish authorities twice facilitated the transfer of Syrian deportees from Tel Abyad to Azaz, elsewhere in northern Syria, or back to Türkiye in August 2023 after deportees complained about the situation in Tel Abyad. Human Rights Watch is unaware of any facilitated transfers since. “I just want to be reunited with my family, and to be able to sustain a life for my kids and wife,” one deportee said. “This is impossible in Tel Abyad. We need to get out of here.” UN agencies have organized missions to the Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad areas since October 2022. The most recent mission in May 2023 was the first time UN agencies had reached Tel Abyad city since 2019. All three missions involved UN staff crossing to the area to directly provide limited humanitarian assistance and perform assessments of humanitarian needs. However, the significant humanitarian needs remain largely unaddressed, according to humanitarian organizations, with Medecins Sans Frontieres the humanitarian situation there “alarming” in June 2023. The aid worker as well as several of the deportees interviewed said that they had not received any aid from Türkiye or local authorities. As the occupying power in Tel Abyad, Türkiye has an obligation to maintain law and order and public life and protect Syrians there from violence, whatever the source. Türkiye is bound by both its international humanitarian law and international human rights law obligations to ensure that its own officials and those under its command do not commit violations of international law, to investigate alleged violations, and ensure that those responsible are appropriately punished. Türkiye is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights , the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , and the 1951 Refugee Convention. As such, and as a matter of customary international law, it is obliged to respect the principle of nonrefoulement, which forbids returning anyone to a location where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture or other cruel treatment, or a threat to their life. Turkish Law 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection , issued in April 2013, offers Syrians “temporary protection in Türkiye, ensures their non-refoulement, and guarantees their stay until safety is established in their original countries.” “Deportees to Tel Abyad have painted a bleak picture of conditions in Türkiye’s touted ‘safe zone,’ one where they are deprived of basic necessities, including shelter and sustenance, and forced to resort to perilous options to leave,” Coogle said.

01.04.2024 17:51 Countries: Afghanistan, Iran , Iraq, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye Sources: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies, Turkish Red Crescent Society Please refer to the attached file. The overall purpose of this study, which focused on enhancing livelihood referral pathways, was to increase the capacity of the refugees to be employed and analyse employability opportunities among refugee population. This contributed to strengthening the current ESSN livelihood internal referral mechanism, to exploring the ways for establishing external referral mechanisms, and the development of synergies between the IFRC and Türk Kizilay's various programmes.