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EU launches its largest aid project for Syrian refugees in Turkey

Xinhua, September 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) launched Monday its largest humanitarian aid program allocating a monthly electronic cash grant via the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) for one million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

"Today we launch the biggest and largest humanitarian project the EU has ever supported. It will provide a basic source of income for one million Syrian refugees," said Christos Stylianides, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, during a news conference with the Turkish EU Affair Minister Omer Celik.

The Turkish minister welcomed the EU's program of approximately 3 billion euro for refugees in Turkey, yet criticized the funds delivery system through international organizations.

"Delivering the aid through Non Governmental Organizations delays the process," he said.

The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) program will transfer on a monthly basis 100 Turkish Liras (30 euro) per person to a debit card, for basic needs such as food, shelter and transportation, EU officials told Xinhua, requesting to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The most vulnerable refugees will be elected from the applicants and every family will have one Kizilay Card.

Brussels pledged to provide around six billion euro until 2018 to help ease Turkey's burden of hosting around three million refugees, in addition to granting Turkish citizens visa-free travel to Europe.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly warned the EU that Ankara will not abide by the migrant deal if the EU delays on delivering its commitments due to red tape.

Turkey currently hosts over 250,000 refugees in 26 camps, but around 90 percent of Syrian refugees live outside camps in urban and rural areas. Endite