The Turkish government has issued new identity cards to Syrian refugees in the country, under new regulations that will grant them a secure legal status in Turkey for the first time.
Turkey, which hosts 1.6 million Syrians who have fled the conflict, passed the new measures in October. In recent weeks, the regulations have begun to come into force, with Syrian refugees lining up to collect the new identity cards, granting them greater access to services outside of the refugees camp they abide in.
The move was praised by Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher for Amnesty International, as “a big step forward”. “The fact that the refugees’ rights and entitlements have been written into law should mean that authorities better implement them,” he said.
However, the regulations stop short of granting official refugee status which will entitle them to a greater range of benefits. And with no set time frame under the latest regulations, there are fears that it could be repealed at any time.
See more from the New York Times here.
The latest move comes amid appeals for a greater international response to aid those fleeing the conflict in Syria.
See our earlier posts:
'Now is the moment to act' on Syria says David Miliband (19 Dec 2014)
UN calls for $16bn to fund humanitarian aid (08 Dec 2014)
More than 1.7 million Syrian refugees at threat as WFP suspends food aid (01 Dec 2014)
Conflict in Iraq and Syria leaves 13.6 million displaced says UN (11 Nov 2014)
Turkey, which hosts 1.6 million Syrians who have fled the conflict, passed the new measures in October. In recent weeks, the regulations have begun to come into force, with Syrian refugees lining up to collect the new identity cards, granting them greater access to services outside of the refugees camp they abide in.
The move was praised by Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher for Amnesty International, as “a big step forward”. “The fact that the refugees’ rights and entitlements have been written into law should mean that authorities better implement them,” he said.
However, the regulations stop short of granting official refugee status which will entitle them to a greater range of benefits. And with no set time frame under the latest regulations, there are fears that it could be repealed at any time.
See more from the New York Times here.
The latest move comes amid appeals for a greater international response to aid those fleeing the conflict in Syria.
See our earlier posts:
'Now is the moment to act' on Syria says David Miliband (19 Dec 2014)
UN calls for $16bn to fund humanitarian aid (08 Dec 2014)
More than 1.7 million Syrian refugees at threat as WFP suspends food aid (01 Dec 2014)
Conflict in Iraq and Syria leaves 13.6 million displaced says UN (11 Nov 2014)