Derya Yanık, Minister of Family and Social Services, said, “Turkey also acts as a bridge in terms of migration and refugees. Moreover, millions of immigrants not only cross this bridge, but also live on this bridge," he said. Minister Yanık attended the “Migration and Humanitarian Aid NGO Workshop” organized within the scope of the 2022-2023 Civil Society Vision Document and Action Plan. In his speech here, Minister Yanık said, “The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has recorded more than 2021 thousand deaths on the European migration routes since 5, and that the number of people displaced in Ukraine has exceeded 8 million due to the Russia-Ukraine War, which is followed daily in the main news bulletins. stated.
Pointing out that while the number of immigrants was 1970 million globally in 84, this number increased to 2020 million in 281, Minister Yanık stated that the rate of international immigrants increased from 2,3 percent to 3,6 percent.
Minister Yanik stated that Europe and Asia currently host 61 percent of the global stock of international immigrants, while Europe hosts 87 million and Asia 86 million international immigrants.
Emphasizing that according to the UNICEF statement, approximately 50 million children in the world have migrated outside the borders of their own countries or have been forcibly displaced, Minister Yanık stated that more than half of these children are children who have fled from an environment of violence and insecurity.
Minister Yanık said, “Turkey also acts as a bridge in terms of migration and refugees. Moreover, millions of immigrants not only cross this bridge, but also live on this bridge.” used his statements.
Pointing out that there is a reason why he talks about numbers, Minister Yanık said, “There are some things that numbers show, and there are some things they can't show. We must not overlook the great truth that is overshadowed by percentages, statistics and some numbers. It is necessary to think very carefully about the consequences of the great tragedy on a global scale.” made its assessment.
“Children and women are most affected”
Recalling the speech of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations and the children he showed photos of, Minister Yanık said, “There were 9 children in that photograph, including 4-month-old Asım and 5-year-old brother Abdulvahap. And their mother is with them. A family that was the victim of a migrant disaster in the Aegean Sea. Just like baby Aylan, it is a family of 6 immigrants among the hundreds of thousands of immigrants whose dead bodies we see on the shores.” he said.
Emphasizing that not only children are affected by this situation, Minister Yanık said:
“The dire consequences of being a homeland affect all members of the family. But children and women are most affected. It will probably not be difficult for us to know and foresee how serious the consequences will be for the whole world if they pass on this trauma to future generations as a bad legacy. As the ministry responsible for family and social services of a will that solved the grain crisis in order to prevent millions of people from suffering food shortages in different continents, especially in Africa, we carry out our work with this sensitivity on behalf of Turkey, which is located in one of the busiest migration corridors.”
In this 3-day workshop, Minister Yanık stated that they will have carried the work they have done in the field of migration and humanitarian aid to a higher level with the representatives of non-governmental organizations last year.
“1.627 Ukrainian citizens were admitted to our country”
Informing that the Ministry of Family and Social Services supported 2022 foreign children in their family environment with the Social and Economic Support (SED) Service as of September 7, Yanık said, “We have 876 children of foreign nationality in foster care. By providing protection and care services to 534 foreign national children in our care institutions, we ensure their safe growth and development.” said.
Minister Yanık stated that they have reached 276 thousand 999 children within the scope of the Social Cohesion Program they have organized to minimize the social cohesion problems of foreign children, and said, “A total of 1150 Ukrainian citizens, including 477 children and 1627 caregivers and caregivers, were admitted to our country. Currently, our Ministry provides direct service to 724 Ukrainian citizens, 239 of whom are children and 963 are adults.” used his statements.
Underlining that they do not make any difference in their work on women, who are among the main service units of the Ministry, like children, especially in their services for asylum seekers, Minister Yanık said:
“We offer urgent solutions to protect our citizens from violence, to ensure their safety and to meet their acute shelter needs. In women's shelters, we provide services to all women who are victims of violence or who need shelter, and their children, without any discrimination. Between January 1 and October 31, 2022, 6,8 percent of the women who were victims of violence, ie 2 thousand 383 women, and 11,82 percent of the children, that is, 2 thousand 858 children, received services from the shelters. During this period, 8,89 percent of the service recipients, that is, 5 thousand 241 people, consists of foreign national women and their children.”
“Children and women are the first victims of forced migration”
Minister Yanık emphasized that they continue to carry out works that will protect and empower every woman, regardless of "migrant", "asylum seeker" or "refugee" in the fight against violence, and said that children and women are the first victims of forced migration that come to mind.
Noting that they have to take into account that migration creates much greater risks for disabled and elderly individuals, Minister Yanık stated that disabled individuals experience their disadvantages exponentially in the migration process, both due to their disability and because of the difficulties created by the migration process.
Minister Yanık noted that as the Ministry, they provide disabled care services to include foreign nationals and their families, and that asylum seekers and refugees benefit from nursing homes, elderly care and rehabilitation centers free of charge.
Stating that the Home Care Assistance service they have implemented for disabled individuals who have difficulty leaving their homes and cannot afford their own care, has spread all over Turkey, Minister Yanık stated that the number of foreign national disabled people benefiting from this assistance as of 2022 is 831.
Minister Yanık added that Turkey, which opened its doors to hundreds of thousands of refugees who left their homes and order behind and stepped into an obscurity due to the wars and conflicts in its region, is now home to nearly 3,7 million refugees, 5 million of whom are Syrians.
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