Turkey halts work of U.S. aid group helping Syrians

ISTANBUL, Turkey – US aid group Mercy Corps said Tuesday that the Turkish government had revoked its permit, halting its work in the country helping Syrians.

“Our hearts are broken by this turn of events, which comes after 5 years of cooperation with the government of Turkey and other local partners,” said the NGO, which has carried out from Turkey one of the largest humanitarian operations in Syria since 2012.

Christine Nyirjesy Bragale, director of media relations at Mercy Corps, said the group had not been given a reason for having its permit revoked. No comment could immediately be obtained from Turkish government officials. 

“We have every confidence in the impartiality and integrity of our operations,” Bragale told AFP.

Mercy Corps has been delivering lifesaving assistance to 350,000 to 500,000 civilians in wartorn Syria each month.

It also helps some of the 2.7 million Syrian refugees who have fled across the border to Turkey, as well as poor Turkish families.

The NGO provided cash cards, hygiene kits, clothing and other aid to 15,000 Syrian refugees who had arrived in Turkey by November last year.

It had also been helping young Syrians in Turkey meet their Turkish peers through joint activities, as well as assisting refugees in the search for work, housing and education.

Mercy Corps said it would go ahead with its ground operations in Syria, and “our priority right now is to limit any adverse effects our departure from Turkey may have on the innocent men, women and children who depend on our assistance.”

Bragale said the group’s sites within Turkey had been closed down.

“We are working very hard to ensure there is no gap,” she added.

Mercy Corps said it was in touch with Turkish authorities to obtain permission to resume operations in the country “as soon as possible”.

“We remain hopeful that the government of Turkey will allow us to return to serve those in critical need,” she said. – Rappler.com