AFAD's projects for the 3 billion euro fund presented to EU

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has presented projects for the three billion euro fund the EU has agreed to provide for Syrian refugees, says AFAD's head, Fuat Oktay. The government is also preparing a strategy report that will set the framework for mid and long term policies about Syrians, he addsThe three billion euro fund that the EU has decided to provide for Syrians in Turkey will be mainly used for their education and health needs, president of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) says.  The projects prepared by AFAD have already been presented to the EU, adds AFAD President Fuat Oktay, while the government's new strategy on mid- and long-term policies concerning Syrians in Turkey will be finalized in a month or two.

Can you give us a general picture about the latest situation?

The arrivals started in 2011 and have grown in number. We had an open door policy, and to this day, that policy has not changed. By 2012, we decided to endorse a different approach. We wanted to change the camp approach to a city approach. We also tried another experience; while the migrants were escaping a dictatorship, we tried to set up an environment where they could speak for themselves. So they had their own elections within the camps.

We established AFKEN (a refugee camp management system), which is a 24/7 online system monitoring all administrative work and operations in the center.  AFKEN received the U.N. Public Service award.

As of today we have 26 camps and there are approximately 285,000 Syrians in the camps. Our current capacity is around 340,000. Currently the total number of Syrians biometrically registered is 2,715,000.

What are the challenges you are facing in terms of...