Highlights
No new official figures reported by AFAD - the Disaster and Emergency Management Agency of Government of Turkey since 30 April for the Syrians registered and accommodated in the camps, therefore, the total population of the Syrians in camps remained approximately 193,000. However with the registration or enumeration of the non camp Syrians by the local authorities, the number of non camp Syrians reported by the officials reached almost 130,000 which brought the total estimated Syrians in Turkey to almost 323,000.
During the meetings with local authorities in Hatay province, it was reported that despite the voluntary returns to Syria, there are also spontaneous arrivals of Syrians to border towns of Hatay province (Altinozu, Reyhanli and Yayladagi), the number of non Camp Syrians in Hatay province is very much changing every day due to the on going enumeration exercise by local police.
The Government officials in Reyhanli informed UNHCR staff that a prefab clinic/hospital is being established by the Syrian community funded by a Syrian NGO and will soon start to provide medical support to the Syrians including those will be brought to Turkey for medical needs. Reportedly the hospital will be managed by Syrian doctors under the supervision of Turkish medical staff from Provincial Health Directorate. The clinic / hospital will have 3 units for surgery, intensive care, laboratory, birth unit and emergency section as well as 30 beds for inpatients. It is foreseen that the hospital will also provide medical support to Syrians now accommodated in IDP camps in Syria.
In line with the Government of Turkey's intention to implement e-vouchers in all camps to provide food assistance, on May 15 WFP and Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) will expand the E- food card programme into another three camps, Osmaniye-Cevdetiye (7,700), Kahramanmaraş (15,600), Adıyaman (10,100). This will increase the total number of beneficiaries from 80,000 to 110, 000 to reach around 60 per cent of the total population of Syrians living in camps in Turkey.
Local officials informed UNHCR Teams that the IDP camps in Syria across the borders of Altinozu, Yayladagi and mainly Reyhanli hosts several thousands of Syrians. Reportedly another IDP camp is also being built across Altinozu with the support from Turkey. It was also reported that apart from the basic humanitarian support provided by Turkish Red Crescent on a daily basis (food packages), at the request from the Syrians across the border, also flour, potatoes, baby food and hygiene items as well as tents are also sent to Syria for the IDPs. It was also reported that some Turkish and International NGOs are already operational in IDP camps providing various assistance on shelter, food, and medical needs.