UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos to visit Turkey

WHO: Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

WHAT: Mission to Turkey

WHEN: 13 - 14 March 2013

WHERE: Ankara and Kilis UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos is scheduled to travel to Turkey from 13 to 14 March 2013.

The two-day visit aims to draw attention to the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Syria, including those who have fled to neighbouring countries like Turkey or who urgently need critical aid in hard-to-reach northern areas. After two years of conflict, the violent situation in Syria shows no sign of abating and millions of parents and their children need help and protection.

More than one million Syrians are now living as refugees, and the Turkish authorities estimate that they are hosting some 400,000 refugees. Ms. Amos is expected to visit a camp in Kilis on Wednesday 13 March with Governor Suleyman Tapsiz to meet refugee families living there and the Turkish and internal agencies helping them.

On Thursday 14 March USG Amos is scheduled to meet senior Government officials in Ankara including Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Besir Atalay, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ahmet Davutoglu and key partners on humanitarian issues including the President of the Turkish Red Crescent Society, H.E Ahmet Lutfi Akar and H.E. Dr. Fuat Oktay, President of AFAD, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Directorate.

Valerie Amos is also expected to sign a Plan of Action outlining areas of further cooperation between OCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and AFAD.

For further details of media opportunities during the trip, please contact:
Amanda Pitt in New York, pitta@un.org, + 1 917 442 1810, +1 212 963 4129
Ahmet Parla in Ankara, ahmet.parla@unic.org, + 90 312 454 1051, + 90 533 500 1497