Turkey shelters the most Syrian child refugees: UNICEF

GENEVA – Anadolu Agency

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UNICEF has said children account for more than half of all registered Syrian refugees in Turkey, making it the main shelter for vulnerable minors ahead of any other country.

Since the beginning of June, more than 23,000 Syrian refugees have crossed into Turkey through the southern Akçakale border gate, fleeing airstrikes and fighting in the city of Tal Abyad, said UNICEF spokesperson Christophe Boulierac on June 16.

Speaking during a press conference in Geneva, Boulierac said at least 10,000 children were among the 23,000 new refugees. 

“Of the almost 1.8 million refugees in Turkey, 54 percent are children - that is around 900,000 child refugees,” said Boulierac.

The country hosting the second-highest number of Syrian child refugees was Lebanon, sheltering at least 630,000, according to UNICEF.

Meanwhile, at least 6,000 Syrian refugee children who recently entered Turkey through Akçakale were vaccinated by Turkish health officials against measles and polio.

Health care and vaccinations were given to 6,000 refugee children younger than 16 years old, said Yaşar Şimşek, the director of the public health department in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa.