Highlights
● On 20 May 2014, AFAD - the Disaster and Emergency Management Agency of Government of Turkey - announced that the total number of Syrians registered and assisted in 22 camps located in 10 provinces was 220,274 AFAD reported that during the period of 19-20 May 2014, a total of 530 Syrians were admitted and registered in the camps and 199 Syrians have voluntarily returned to Syria.
● In Hatay Reyhanli town, local officials informed UNHCR that as of 20 May 2014, they have registered 38,617 non-camp Syrians. The registration is still on-going in the mobile coordination center provided by UNHCR. The officials stated that there is mobility of non-camp Syrians in town and they presume that some of those who were previously registered in Reyhanli may have moved to other locations while in the meantime others have newly arrived.
● International Rescue Committee (IRC) opened their Youth Center in Reyhanli. The center will be serving to both the local population and non-camp Syrians between 12-25 years old. IRC informed UNHCR that with the support of the sub-governorate they had conducted preliminary focus group discussions with Syrians to decide on types of activities to be conducted in the center. Currently they are organizing English and Turkish language classes but the activities will be expanded. The center is currently funded by the US State Department Bureau ofPopulation Refugees and Migration (BPRM).
● Camp officials informed UNHCR that AFAD identified 44 field staff who were trained on Child Protection System in partnership with UNICEF. AFAD has started to deploy the first teams composed of 22 field staff to 11 camps in 7 provinces (Adana, Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Mardin, and Sanliurfa). Each team is composed of 2 staff and will observe the situation of children in particular, but also other vulnerable groups, and people with special needs. Reportedly their assessments will be shared with UNICEF.
● In Kahramanmaras, the local officials informed that the number of registered non-camp Syrians reached 29,655, of whom almost 87% were issued their ID cards. UNHCR team met with some of the new arrivals who were waiting for their registration. They stated to be from Aleppo and Azaz and arrived in Turkey recently crossed through unofficial crossing points.