Acting on Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi’s instructions, the Special Envoy for Humanitarian Issues, Margherita Boniver, begins her mission to Turkey today.
This is the Hon. Boniver’s third mission devoted to the refugee emergency caused by the Syrian crisis; it follows her recent trips to Lebanon and Jordan. Her schedule includes a visit to the Kilis reception camp for Syrian refugees, and meetings with the Turkish authorities. With them, the Envoy will be discussing the possibility of further humanitarian initiatives by Italy through the channels Turkey has suggested to the international community.
€20 million for refugees
During yesterday’s (12 November 2012) visit to Rome by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Davutoglu, Minister Terzi announced that Italy has set €20 million as the amount needed in the coming months to aid Syrian refugees in Turkey, and those inside the country itself.
Turkey is a key partner in the humanitarian initiatives the Italian Government has put in place since the early days of the conflict in Syria. The consequences of the fighting are dramatic: according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, over 360,000 people have fled the violence in Syria, and their numbers are increasing. Over 111,000 are now in Turkey, in 12 camps set up in collaboration with the Red Crescent and the High Commissioner’s Office.
