8,000 PALESTINIAN REFUGEES SUFFERING TRAGIC CONDITIONS IN TURKEY
Istanbul, 26 Rabi’ul Awwal 1437/6 January 2015 (MINA) – 8,000 Palestinian refugees, who migrated from Syria to Turkey, have been suffering harsh living conditions especially in southern Turkish cities of Kielce, Urfa, Mersin, Antioch and others.
The Palestinian migrants complain of the lack of job opportunities, poverty, too expensive rentals and harsh living conditions because of the extreme cold weather and the lack of heating means.
Besides, many of students refrain from joining Syrian schools.
The Turkish regulations do not allow the entry of Palestinians into Turkey without visa, which force them to enter the country illegally and thus put themselves in danger, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
The Palestinian refugees in Turkey appealed to the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government to help them and improve their humanitarian and legal conditions as well as allowing Palestinians to enter Turkey without visa.
Around 29% of Palestinian refugees dwell in 58 camps, 10 camps in Jordan, 14 camps in Syria (9 of which are recognized by UNRWA and the rest are still unrecognized), 12 camps in Lebanon, 19 camps in the West Bank and 8 camps in the Gaza Strip.
Those estimates represent the minimum number of the Palestinian refugees, as there are still unregistered refugees.
The estimated number of the Palestinians refugees including those displaced after 1949 till the beginning of the Six-Day War in 1967.
UNRWA’s definition of Palestinian refugee does not include those who became refugees following the 1967 six-day war.
This report highlights the conditions of Palestinian refugees living in Syria especially in light of the Syrian crisis which started as popular mass protests in March 18, 2011.
The report detail their plight, conditions, legal status and other related issues either in Syria or the countries they fled to including Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Sweden and Turkey. (T/Imt/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
