Syrian children with Down syndrome attend new center in Turkey’s southeast

ŞANLIURFA

A newly established rehabilitation center for Syrian children with Down syndrome has begun functioning in the southeastern Turkish province of Şanlıurfa, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The facility, which opened in Şanlıurfa’s Haliliye district, was financed by Syrian businesspeople and is currently providing education to 40 children.

“They are very excited to be here and very eager to learn something new,” said Helin Isbusad, a therapist working at the center.

The children’s morale and motivation are very high, Isbusad added.

Amir Isreydi, the director of the center, said the children had been unable to access therapy in Syria due to the bloody civil war ongoing there.

Therapists and personnel at the center try to help children gain balance when walking and help monitor their development of talent and skills, Isreydi added.

The number of Syrian migrants in Turkey currently surpasses 3.2 million, according to statistics released by the Interior Ministry’s Directorate General of Migration Management.

The statistics said the total number of Syrian migrants who were registered with biometric IDs reached 3,208,131 as of Sept. 28.

The ministry has been continuing efforts to update its lists of registrations for Syrians to benefit from sheltering, healthcare, education, labor and social aid services.