Turkey is host to the largest numbers of refugees worldwide, including 3,2 million Syrian refugees who are granted temporary protection as well as some 300,000 asylum-seekers and refugees of other nationalities, of whom 93% live in urban, peri-urban and rural areas across the country’s 81 provinces. Turkey has adopted a legal framework (Law on International Protection and Foreigners and a Temporary Protection regulation) which form the basis for UNHCR Turkey’s strategy and priorities, in line with UNHCR’s Global Strategic Priorities:
Promoting access to and the provision of protection: UNHCR will promote protection-sensitive border management and access to protection and asylum-procedures (GSP 1), including by supporting the Directorate General for Migration Management (DGMM) in efforts to develop the national asylum-system, including registration and refugee status determination procedures for persons seeking international protection in Turkey.
Strengthening access to quality services for refugees through public systems, national and local institutions: UNHCR will continue to advocate and support the inclusion of refugees into national systems, including by strengthening cooperation with line ministries and institutions at national, provincial and local level and by providing technical and capacity development support to this effect. While inclusion into national services is a priority in all sectors, UNHCR’s specific emphasis will be (GSP 3) on reducing protection risks, in particular of children and in the prevention and response to sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) as well as on the identification and social support to refugees with specific needs, including by strengthening the partnership with the Ministry of Family and Social Policies (MoFSP) and supporting the network of Social Service Centres as well as through cash-based interventions.
UNHCR Turkey will continue to reinforce community-based approaches and strengthen its outreach as well as communication with communities, including host communities. Support at the municipal level will be strengthened with a view to promote social cohesion (GSP 6).
With regard to education, UNHCR will continue to focus on higher education (GSP 7), through the provision of scholarships, and Turkish language classes.
Providing humanitarian assistance and temporary services to meet unaddressed needs, including in camps: UNHCR and its partners will focus on the identification of persons with specific needs and the most vulnerable. Where necessary, those not eligible to other types of assistance, will be supported through cash-based interventions as a component of a wider individual protection response, such as Cash for Protection, Cash for Shelter (GSP 5), etc.
Promoting and preparing for durable solutions for refugees: With self-reliance being a precursor to any durable solution, UNHCR will continue livelihood support (GSP 7) with a view to persons of concern becoming active economic actors. The focus will be on working closely with public institutions for advocacy and job matching, overall information to the public and private sector, as well as catalytic interventions, which increase employability of refugees.
UNHCR Turkey will also continue to pursue resettlement (GSP 8) as a solution for the most vulnerable refugees, while promoting and supporting alternative pathways (i.e. private sponsorship, humanitarian visa, family reunification).
2018