Turkey best ‘example' for helping Syrians: official

By Betul Yuruk

NEW YORK

Turkey has served as the "best practice example" for helping Syrian refugees, the head of Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) said Wednesday.

At an event at UN headquarters in New York, Abdullah Eren said Ankara has responded to the Syrian crisis with an "open-door-policy" of helping millions of people to survive and maintain their lives.

"Our aim has always been not to leave anyone behind including old people, youth, disabled, women children," said Eren.

"I should also underline that Turkey responded to this issue with huge resources and efforts in a relatively chaotic time interval considering a coup attempt and other threats to its national security," he added.

He referred to the defeated coup attempt in Turkey, staged by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) that left 251 martyred and injured nearly 2,200 others and posed security threats across its border with Syria.

Eren said Turkey's effort to host millions of Syrians has never been part of a political campaign or an instrument of the Turkish government "as we approach this from a humanity perspective."

"Turkey has shown a tremendous effort on and international level and showcased to the world a best practice example in terms of social acceptance and development of the Syrian population residing in Turkey," he said.

Turkey hosts more Syrian refugees than any other country in the world.

Eren revealed the figure as more than 4 million Syrians "under temporary protection status".

Ankara has spent more than $30 billion from its own resources to help and shelter refugees since the beginning of the Syrian civil war.

*Servet Gunerigok in Washington contributed to the story