European Union supports refugee response in Turkey with new USD 19 million contribution to UNHCR

Ankara, 19 October 2020 – The European Union (EU) through its Humanitarian Aid Operations has provided USD 19 million (EUR 16 million) in support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for the refugee response in Turkey.

With close to 4 million refugees and asylum-seekers, Turkey continues to be the country hosting the largest number of refugees worldwide. This latest assistance of the EU will support a wide range of UNHCR activities aimed at strengthening protection of the most vulnerable refugees and enhancing their access to services and reliable information nationwide.

In particular, the EU’s funding will contribute to UNHCR’s work in support of the registration capacity of national authorities, the identification, referral and assistance of persons with specific needs, and effective communication with communities. The EU’s assistance will also enable vulnerable refugee households affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to benefit from one-off emergency cash assistance.

“The COVID-19 pandemic represents a key challenge, especially for already vulnerable households, including among the refugee communities,” noted Katharina Lumpp, UNHCR Representative in Turkey. “We are grateful for the EU’s continued funding, which comes at a critical time and will help UNHCR to step up its support in addressing the protection needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in Turkey and provide relief to some of the households most affected by the pandemic, in close cooperation with our government counterparts and partners.”

“The world’s most vulnerable are disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Through this timely cooperation with UNHCR, the EU continues to support refugees in Turkey in this critical period. We remain committed to tackling this pandemic both inside and outside the EU’s borders until it is over,” said Claudia Amaral, Head of the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Office in Turkey.

The EU is a long-standing partner of UNHCR’s work in Turkey. The latest contribution brings the total EU humanitarian aid funding towards UNHCR’s activities in Turkey to over USD 132 million (EUR 116 million) in the past five years.

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is tasked to coordinate international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. Working with partners, we provide humanitarian assistance, help providing protection and safeguarding the rights of refugees, and promote solutions so that people forced to flee have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. We also work with States and partners so that stateless people are granted a nationality.

UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR Turkey contact:

Selin Ünal, Spokesperson, Ankara

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +90 530 282 78 62

About European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian aid Operations Directorate-General (DG ECHO), the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Office in Turkey contact:

Lisa Hastert, Regional Information Officer, Ankara

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +90 533 412 56 63