Thailand provides financial aid towards Syrian refugees in Turkey

   On 24 December 2012, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Manasvi Srisodapol gave a press interview regarding the donation of 30,000 USD (or approximately 926,100 baht) made by the Royal Thai Government to the Turkish Government as financial aid towards the Syrian refugees in Turkey.

   Foreign Ministry Spokesperson stated that Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Thai Ambassador to Turkey, met with Mr. Salih Bogac Guldere, Acting Director General of the Department of International Political Organizations, to express concerns from the Royal Thai Government regarding the uprising in Syria, as well as understood the necessity in calling for financial and humanitarian aid towards the Syrian refugees in Turkey. In this connection, the Ambassador viewed that Thailand has been facing a similar situation in providing humanitarian assistance to displaced persons from neighbouring countries who fled to Thailand. On behalf of the Royal Thai Government, the Ambassador therefore presented the financial aid to the Turkish Government to assist the Syrian refugees. He also expressed Thailand’s hope of seeing the ongoing violence in Syria end and return back to normalcy soon.

   In turn, Mr. Salih Bogac Guldere, on behalf of the Turkish Government, appreciated the donation from the Royal Thai Government. He said that the Turkish Government will directly spend the said donation to help Syrian refugees. To note, the Turkish Government has an “open border” policy to assist the Syrian refugees. So far, 14 camps had been built and the Turkish Government wishes to invite the Thai side to visit and explore the conditions of the said camps and refugees.

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