Initiative Launched to End Syrian Panhandling in Turkey

The influx of Syrian refugees to Turkey has been steady since 2011. UNHCR reported that since the start of the year, more than 20,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Turkey — one of the largest influxes since early 2013. More recently, more than 500 refugees have been arriving daily across the authorized crossing points, and sometimes as many as 1,000 to 2,000 per day.

Though the country, the UN refugee agency and foreign aid have done as much as they can to accommodate the arrival of the refugee population, many of them arrive displaced and economically challenged, depending on the government and Turkish civilians for assistance. Syrian national Ahmad Edilbi, founder of Dubarah, a platform that seeks to aid refugees in re-establishing social and economic security, stepped in.

Edilbi hopes to minimize the growing amount of Syrian refugees who have been soliciting financial assistance in the streets of Turkey with Dubarah’s campaign to raise both awareness and assistance to the needs of the community. He hopes to embolden the refugees to play active roles in rebuilding their lives, and not to depend on the generosity or charity of the host country. Dubarah is committed to providing employment opportunities, including a campaign directed at Syrian diaspora entrepreneurs, investors and businessmen dubbed “Employ/Partner with a Syrian refugee”.

For more info: Dubarah, Dubarah Facebook, Ahmad Edilbi