Commissioner Stylianides in Turkey to launch largest-ever EU humanitarian aid programme

Today Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides is in Ankara to launch the EU's flagship humanitarian aid programme, which is set to provide a monthly electronic cash grant to benefit 1 million refugees in Turkey. Speaking in Ankara, Commissioner Stylianides said: "I'm confident that EU humanitarian aid will make a real difference for refugees in Turkey, helping one million people.

The launch of our new programme here in Turkey today is a clear example of the strong partnership of the EU and Turkey in finding together new, innovative ways to address one of the most important humanitarian challenges of our times." The Commissioner will take part in the official launch event of the €348 million Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) aid programme in Ankara alongside Executive Director of the World Food Programme Ertharin Cousin. The Commissioner is also visiting EU humanitarian projects funded under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, including a Community Centre for Syrian refugees run by the Turkish Red Crescent and a Child Protection Support Centre supported by the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers (ASAM) and UNICEF. Audiovisual coverage will be made available on EBS. A factsheet on the ESSN aid programme is available here.