Summary of WFP assistance: In coordination with the Government, WFP conducted a voucher feasibility study in 2012 resulting in an electronic food voucher (e-food card) programme to address food security needs of camp populations. This was found to be more cost effective over the provision of meals, providing savings of over 70 percent.
In February 2014, in response to the Government’s appeal to provide support to all civilian camps whilst also facing the challenge of mobilising sufficient resources to meet the caseload, WFP and TRC, in conjunction with AFAD, launched a cost-sharing pilot in Ceylanpinar camp (in Şanlıurfa). Under this modality, WFP uploaded 60 Turkish liras (TL) per person per month on the WFP/TRC e-Food Card and AFAD uploaded 20 TL for food and 5 TL for non-food items, so that the food entitlement totalled 80 TL per person per month. In the following months, the scheme was expanded to new camps as infrastructure and programme prerequisites were in place, and in June 2014, the programme reached approximately 220,000 individuals in all 21 civilian camps in Turkey — all the people WFP and TRC were requested to assist. In February 2015, precipitated by critical funding shortfalls and a 70 percent implementation rate across the region, WFP reduced its coverage to 11 camps and approximately 150,000 individuals. Moreover, in line with 2015 plan and harmonisation of the referential food basket at the regional level, WFP provides 50 TL on a card only for food needs, while the Government of Turkey provides 35 TL on a separate card to meet complementary food and non-food needs.
Owing to the urgent food requirements of an increasing number of refugees residing in urban and rural areas, the government, in 2015, authorised WFP to begin support to the most vulnerable in four Syrian concentration urban centres of southeast Turkey, namely Gaziantep, Hatay, Sanliurfa and Killis. WFP launched a pilot initiative in July 2015, utilising some NGOs’ e-voucher programme assessment and monitoring data and own experience in creating and managing the e-food card programme, to develop vulnerability and targeting criteria for urban programming. To date, some 20,000 urban refugees have received WFP assistance since the launch of the off- camp programme in July. The programme will scale-up from January to May 2016, when the target figure of 100,000 will be reached and maintained through December, 2016.
All refugees assisted by WFP in and outside of camps received a standard amount of assistance, which is less than a full food basket but which is harmonized with Government assistance given to vulnerable nationals. In 2016, WFP refugee response in Turkey will continue to reflect local realities and lessons learnt by increasing targeting to reach the most vulnerable in a sustainable and responsible manner. Through the continuous use of cash based transfers as primary means of assisting Syrian refugees, WFP will seek to maintain its operations in camps, where possible, and expand its e-card programme outside of camps.
Additionally, during the first three quarters of 2015, 25 percent of WFP’s global food procurement is from Turkish vendors.