UN Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator (DERC) Ms. Ursula Mueller concluded her 4-day visit to Turkey [EN/AR/TR]
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UN DEPUTY HUMANITARIAN CHIEF THANKS REPUBLIC OF TURKEY FOR FACILITATING HELP FOR MILLIONS OF SYRIANS
Ankara, 1 December 2017
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator (DERC) Ms. Ursula Mueller concluded her 4-day visit to the Republic of Turkey today. During her visit, she met with senior government officials and humanitarian partners to discuss the achievements and challenges of the cross-border operation for Syria. She also commended the ongoing partnership between the Government of Turkey and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
While in Gaziantep, Ms. Mueller met with authorities and humanitarian partners to discuss cross-border operations in the response to the Syria humanitarian crisis. The UN Security Council resolution 2165 is critical in providing a lifeline to millions of vulnerable Syrians who otherwise could not be reached effectively. “I thank the Government and the people of the Republic of Turkey for doing so much to assist people in need and for their support for renewal of the resolution,” said Ms. Mueller
The Government and people of Turkey hosts over 3.2 million refugees within its borders, and facilitates delivery of critical humanitarian assistance through cross-border operations.
In Kilis, Ms. Mueller visited three centers run by NGOs providing a range of support to Syrian refugees who now live in Turkey: a women’s center, a medical rehabilitation center for people with special needs, and a community center providing psycho-social support and livelihood opportunities. Some of the Syrian refugees shared what they experienced before coming to Turkey, and spoke of their concerns for their children’s future. Ms. Mueller stated that “NGO support for Syrians in need is invaluable, as their efforts are the backbone of the humanitarian operation.”
Prior to her travel to the border area, Ms. Mueller participated in the Global South-South Cooperation Expo 2017 in Antalya, where she co-hosted a Leadership Roundtable “From delivering aid to ending need: Advancing the 2030 Agenda in the crisis contexts” with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency
For further information, please contact:
Fadwa AbedRabou Baroud, OCHA, Turkey baroud2@un.orgmailto:baroud2@un.org Tel:+90 342 211 86 03 Cell:+90 533 617 61 53
Russell Geekie, OCHA New York, geekie@un.orgmailto:geekie@un.org, Tel: +1 212 963 8340, Cell: +1 917 331 0393
Jens Laerke, OCHA Geneva, laerke@un.orgmailto:laerke@un.org , Tel.: +41 22 917 11 42, Cell: +41 79 472 9750