The World Food Programme (WFP) has said that EU aid in Turkey is necessary to stop another influx of refugees coming to Europe. The current aid from Brussels, in the form of cash payments, has given many Syrians in Turkey a sense of autonomy over their financial situation.
It is vital that EU aid continue to reach Syrian refugee in Turkey, according to Nils Grede, head of the World Food Programme's Turkey branch. "Despite the fact that they hold positions far from each other on some issues, Turkey and the EU fully support each other, since if the aid program for refugees were not to work, poverty would rise in Turkey as would the pressure towards further migration to Europe," Grede said.
The WFP and the Red Crescent run the EU's aid project, ESSN, with which 1.2 million Syrians receive a small amount of money every month through a special debit card. The program is the largest humanitarian aid project ever funded by Brussels.
Freedom to choose how to spend money restores dignity
"The freedom of choice on how to spend this money is the best way to restore dignity to people who, due to war, have lost everything," Grede told ANSA. The billion-euro program has been up and running since late 2016 and there has been a rapid increase in beneficiaries, with over 2 million refugees having completed applications. To be eligible, however, the refugees must meet one of the 'fragility' criteria. These criteria include, for example, being a single parent with young children and being unable to work, or being handicapped. The 140,000 Syrians living in refugee camps on the border also receive a monthly payment, but in their cases this amount can be used only in specific shops inside the facilities hosting them.
About 30 euros per month for each of 1.2 million refugees
The 120,000 Turkish liras (just under 30 euros) given to refugees on a monthly basis helps them to meet basic needs, such as paying rent, buying groceries, paying bills and covering transport costs.
"In this way we are trying to avoid children being sent to the streets to beg instead of to school," Grede said.
Program ends in January, another 3 billion expected
The EU has pledged, the first 3 billion euros provided for by the agreement with Ankara, although the full amount has not yet been delivered. Procedures to fund the second aid installment have been set in motion. The ESSN program has resources to last until January 2019 and the EU has started procedures to allocate another 3 billion euros, sources said in Brussels.
"Considering the number of refugees, the Turkish government has always been very open and helpful, and the population has been hospitable," Grede said. "It is only right that Europe also continues to do its part."