26 September 2016•Update: 27 September 2016
ANKARA
A million refugees living across Turkey will be provided with pre-paid debit cards.
"This is a project for a social safety net that is a good example for the world," head of the Turkish Red Crescent, Kerem Kinik said Monday at an event in Ankara for the launch of the project, worth nearly 350 million euros (approx. $391 million). .
Each card will be credited with 100 Turkish liras ($33.56) a month.
The refugees, for the most part Syrians, will be able to use the cards to pay for food, clothing, or health services.
Financed by the EU, the project is part of a 6-billion-euro aid package agreed upon between the bloc and Turkey in March.
It will be carried out by the Turkish Red Crescent, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, and the UN World Food Programme.
Kinik pointed out that Turkey hosted nearly 3 million refugees and was working meticulously to reach more Syrians who need aid.
AFAD President Mehmet Halis Bilden said Turkey had spent so far around $25 billion for Syrian refugees since the start of the conflict, while he said the total aid provided from the international bodies only amounted to $512 million.
Among millions of Syrian refugees across the country, Bilden said over 260,000 were housed in 26 tent cities established in 12 provinces.
The refugees staying in the tent cities had already been provided with similar cards, he added.
Applications for the debit cards are expected to be available in October.
