Turkey vaccinates 6,000 Syrian children near southeast border

At least 6,000 Syrian refugee children, who recently entered Turkey following a U.S.-led air offensive in northeast Syria, have been vaccinated by Turkish health officials against measles and polio.

Health care and vaccination were given to refugee children who entered Turkey via the Akçakale customs area, fleeing the fighting and bombings in the city of Tal Abyad, according to Ya?ar ?im?ek, the director of the public health department in the southeastern province of ?anl?urfa.

A total of 6,000 children younger than 16 years old were vaccinated after they entered Turkey via the Syrian border, ?im?ek said.

"Measles and polio were both serious contagious diseases for Syria, as we knew of past cases in the country. We have taken preventive measures against them," he added.

The health director said a health team of 20 people in the border region has been offering ambulatory care service for women and the elderly.

?im?ek further noted the refugees could get free service from family health centers in the Akçakale district for 24 hours.

Since the operations began two weeks ago, almost 15,000 civilians from adjacent villages and towns - most of whom are Syrian Arabs or Turkmens rather than Kurds - have crossed the border into ?anl?urfa.