Highlights
• According to the official numbers from the Government Agency - AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency). the total number of Syrians registered and accommodated in 14 camps in 7 provinces reached to 150,906 persons including 202 who are under medical treatment in hospitals.
• Reportedly during the first 4 days on 2013 2,610 Syrians were admitted to Turkey from the borders while 511 Syrians have returned to Syria voluntarily.
• The shortage in capacity in the existing camps continued to be the major challenge for the authorities. Reportedly the officials have started to establish additional family tents in Akcakale to accommodate those who are temporarily accommodated in the communal tents and the same is planned for those in Kahramanmaras camp as well. According to the local authorities, there are some 1,500 Syrians temporarily accommodated in the available spaces belong to the municipality in Nizip town and they are intended to be moved to the new container site with 5,000 capacity which is planned to be opened on Friday 11 Jan. 2013. In the two camps in Sanliurfa reportedly some more than 17,000 Syrians are registered in these camps but lives outside with their relatives on permission from the camp officials.
• According to the local authorities, and MFA regional representative, there are some 25,000 Syrians living in the IDP camps across the border of Hatay and Kilis. Reportedly the basic humanitarian assistance is provided by the Turkish Government through Kizilay at zero point.
• During the visits to the camps, UNHCR staff was informed by the camp officials and it was also observed that within the preparations for the winterization in Islahiye camp, the tents are being renewed with the new winter tents. In all the camps, the distribution of platforms are completed. The distribution of other items like winter clothes shoes etc. is an on going process in some of the camps.