ID :
452629
Wed, 06/28/2017 - 07:58
Auther :

Turkey's Beauty Lies In The Hearts Of Its People

By Mohd Razman Abdullah GAZIENTEP (Turkey), June 28 (Bernama) -- Breathtaking sceneries and historical Ottoman buildings are famed features of Turkey's beauty, but it is the hearts of its people opening up to millions of refugees from their war-torn neighbour Syria that adds a new dimension to Turkish hospitality. This is the most stunning takeaway impression this writer had at the end of a week-long special tour of Turkey with some 40 international journalists during the final week of Ramadan. Since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, Turkey has become the host for more than 3.05 million refugees. While some of Syria’s neighbours closed their borders to what must be the biggest humanitarian crisis in many decades, Turkey did otherwise on humanitarian grounds. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would continue its bid to help the Syrian refugees purely on humanitarian ground. Erdogan wanted the Turkish people to set a good example to the world about their generosity to their neighbours, particularly Syrians. "I am proud and thank the people of Turkey for showing our solidarity and provide shelter for the Syrians," Erdogan said in a speech on the last day of Ramadan in Sanliurfa, about 150 km from here. The war has displaced 4.9 million Syrians, with many fleeing to neighbouring countries and slipping inexorably into abject poverty. “Syria is now a 'death trap' for everyone who stayed put,” said Ammar Amman, 43, who is among 24,000 Syrian refugees living in the modernised refugees centre in Turkey. "I want to live there but it is too dangerous where buildings were blown up, gunshots everywhere and the use of chemical weapons," he said adding that he fled his country five years ago. Amman, his wife Rivayda Selfun, 40, and their three daughters are now sheltered at Turkey's KahramanMaras Temporary Protection Centre. "Life is much better here, it is peaceful and people are helpful. Thank you Turkey," said Amman, who was still hopeful that someday he would return to his homeland. Officials said Turkey has set a new world benchmark in refugee settlements. It provides 23 Temporary Protection Centres across the country for 247,000 Syrians with a hospitality never seen before at any refugee camps. The centres are made up of container-turn-homes equipped with water supply, solar powered electricity as well as furniture with access to healthcare and other facilities including markets, playgrounds, courtyards, mosque, schools and others. Turkey is transforming its approach in hosting refugees from canvas-type camps to modernised up-to-date centres. According to its Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the agency that handles the refugees, the Turkish government had been spending USD$ 5 billion annually for the refugees. AFAD president Mehmet Halis Bilden said since the Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, Turkey had spent USD$ 25 billion (RM100 billion) to host them. The international community has contributed USD$526 million (RM2.3 billion) to Turkey in helping the refugees, he said. Turkey’s Directorate General of Press and Information director general, Mehmet Akarca said the Turkish government treated these Syrians as "our brothers in need." "It is better to be a giver than to be a receiver in this situation, which is also in accordance to Islamic teachings. It is also to show the world how we should really treat the refugees," he added. -- BERNAMA

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