Add us as your preferred source on Google to see more of our content in Search.
Add to Preferred SourcesThe Commission announced additional humanitarian aid for two major projects through the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, that both work by providing monthly transfers via debit card.
The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) which is implemented by the World Food Programme will receive €650 million. A further €50 million will boost the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) project implemented by UNICEF.
“The EU is an innovator in humanitarian aid and we are stepping up funding for programmes that are bringing real results to over one million people. With €1 billion in funding, the Emergency Social Safety Net is improving lives and helping refugees and their host communities in Turkey. This is complemented by a programme encouraging children to go to school, by providing additional money on the same card. Let me commend the generosity of the Turkish people in hosting so many refugees,” said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.
The ESSN programme works by providing monthly transfers to the most vulnerable refugees via a special debit card, allowing them to purchase essential items. It already supports over 1.1 million refugees and will continue until the end of January 2019 with this additional funding. Today’s announcement brings total funding to the ESSN to €1 billion.
The CCTE project, announced earlier this year, supports refugee families who register their children for school and ensure regular attendance. The programme, delivered by UNICEF, helps cover the costs of education and supports families to send their children to school. The project has now reached the families of over 167 000 children, and aims to help 250 000 refugee children during its first year.
Both programmes are implemented in close partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent, and the Turkish authorities.
Original source: European Commission
Published on 11 December 2017