UN refugee chief praises Turkish efforts toward Syrians

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres has praised Turkey’s efforts in hosting the Syrian people during his visit to refugees in Turkey.

Guterres paid a visit Sunday to the biggest tent city of Turkey with has a capacity to shelter in 35,000 people which was made by the Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) for Syrian refugees in Suruc district of southern province Sanliurfa.

Accompanied by the district governor of Suruc, Abdullah Ciftci, he walked around the tent city and viewed schools, markets and sport centres and talked with refugees.

Guterres told reporters that the tent city is very big and impressive.

“You [Turkey] have managed well a very difficult period during which there was both complicated situation on the other side of the border [in Syria] and intensive arrivals here,” he said. “You have carried out important aids with your fraternal emotions and sympathy.”

Guterres also went to Gaziantep province and met with its mayor, Fatma Sahin.

He emphasized during his visit that if Turkey had not been so generous regarding Syrians, the effects of the crisis in Syria would be worse for the entire region.

“A larger possible instability in the region was prevented thanks to Turkey’s support,” Guterres added. “Such instability would make the solution hopeless. Turkey’s policy was correct.”

Antonio Guterres was with Hollywood star and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday at an iftar (breaking of fast) program in Turkey’s southeastern Mardin province.