Turkey Vows to Help Syrian Refugees

 

About 12,000 refugees are registered in six camps across Turkey's Hatay province near the Syrian border.

 

[Nazmi Ertan, Head of Red Crescent Team at Boynuyogun]:

"For the time being, 1,750 Syrians are lodged in 548 tents at Boynuyogun camp. As the Turkish Red Crescent, we assist them in all humanitarian issues, we provide them with food, cleaning products, and hygiene kits."

 

In an interview with Reuters, the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated his country's pledge to help people fleeing the violence in Syria.

 

[Ahmet Davutoglu, Foreign Minister of Turkey]:

"From the first day we said that all Syrians-- brothers and sisters who are escaping from oppression-- they will be our guests. And now we have around 12,000."

 

But many Syrians are aching to return home, or go somewhere different they can finally call home.

 

[Muhammad Amro, Syrian Refugee]:

"I am waiting because maybe we might return back to our country. If we can't go back maybe I want to ask any country to take us."              

 

Once a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey has now strongly condemned his government's bloody crackdown - which the U.N. says has claimed over 5,000 lives - and called for him to step down.