Highlights
- UNHCR begins delivery of winterization kits on 11 November : target by end January : 270,000 refugees in camps ; 135,000 out of camp refugees
- Ten cold chain vehicles and 10 fully equipped ambulances handed over to Turkish authorities
UNHCR’s Winterization Assistance for Refugees in Turkey
For many Syrians refugees, this could be their fifth winter living in exile in Turkey. Cold, bitter weather characterized the winter months last year, making it essential to support families living in camps and in towns, cities and rural locations with items to keep them warm.
Beginning in November 2015 and until January 2016, UNHCR will support more than 270,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees living in 24 camps across southeast Turkey with core relief items and nearly 135,000 out of camp refugees all over the country.
Camps: Each family in a camp will receive a winter package which includes: high-thermal blankets, thermal underwear, anoraks and boots and one heater per family. In total, UNHCR will support some 270,000 refugees (including 15,000 Iraqi refugees in three camps) with the following items: 263,335 high thermal blankets; 271,106 anoraks and thermal underwear; 271,106 winter boots; 60,000 heaters.
Out of Camp: The package for refugees living out of the camps, is the same except that these families will not receive a heater. A new initiative this year is the E-cash voucher, also for families outside of camps, who do not receive a winter package. These refugee families will get E-Cash vouchers worth 600TL (US $ 200) per family and will be able to use these at designated outlets, to buy what they need to survive the harsh winter months.
In total, UNHCR will support nearly 135,000 refugees in urban locations through its partners CONCERN and ASAM: Winterization NFI kit (high thermal blankets, anoraks, thermal underwear) for some 65,000 refugees; E-cash vouchers for 70,000 refugees who do not receive a winter kit and live in urban areas in Turkey
The total amount spent on winterization items is approximately US$ 18 million and an additional US $ 3 million on the E-cash vouchers, made possible, by generous funding from donors who support the UNHCR operation in Turkey.
UNHCR began delivering the winterization items on 11 November, prioritising delivery to camps that will experience colder weather first. By end of November, 80 per cent of the high thermal blankets and 25 per cent of the winter clothing have been delivered to 21 out of 24 camps. During delivery, UNHCR Field Teams are present, however the actual distribution of items in the camps is managed by The Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).