The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) programme, the largest humanitarian programme ever deployed by the EU, has helped 1.5 million refugees in Turkey, the European Commission announced on Monday 7 January. The visit to Turkey of the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, provided the opportunity.
Launched in September 2016, this programme is funded by the Refugee Facility for Turkey (see EUROPE 11619). It allows the most vulnerable refugees to provide for their day-to-day needs (accommodation, food, medicines, education of children) through debit cards powered by cash transfers (€30 per month per person). With these cards, refugees can purchase supplies from the local market or withdraw cash.
"With Turkey, we will continue to provide this assistance", the Commissioner said in a statement. Humanitarian funds planned for 2019 amount to €640 million, including €80 million to support education in emergencies.
The Turkey Refugee Facility, which was endowed with €3 billion for 2016-2017, has €500 million for 2018 out of the €3 billion planned for 2018-2019 (second tranche). The Court of Auditors has just drawn up a mixed assessment (see EUROPE 12136). The Emergency Social Safety Net is implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Turkish Red Crescent, in consultation with the Turkish authorities. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)