Together We Stand

[ 143 ] The Kizilaykart electronic smart card/e-voucher programme Turkish Red Crescent Migration and Refugee Services Department A total of 13.5 million Syrians (mostly women and children) have been forced from their homes as a result of the full-scale civil war triggered by small-scale anti-government protests which began in March 2011. Almost 4.6 million ended up in neigh- bouring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. As of March 2016, 2.7 million Syrians remain registered in Turkey (271,860 in camps, 2.5 million off- camp), making Turkey the largest host of Syrian people in the world. The Kizilaykart programme had already been implemented by Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) for aid purposes inside Turkey. In October 2012, it became operational for Syrian people hosted in Turkish camps, through collaboration between the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and TRC, and the genuine support of the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The Kilis Accommodation Centre was chosen as the pilot area for implementation on 13 October 2012, with the aim of allowing Syrian people to purchase food supplies from the contracted markets. Prior to the Kizilaykart programme, with respect to its auxiliary role to the Government of Turkey on nutrition, TRC distributed hot meals in the accommodation centres. That, however, resulted in a considerable level of dissat- isfaction. A significant number of Syrian people were not happy with what they received and lot of food could be seen thrown into the garbage around the camps. The Kizilaykart programme provides a variety of options for beneficiaries to diversify their diets based on their own priorities shaped by their local/cultural tastes. It also prevents food waste, and allows the beneficiaries to socialize in markets and take control of their budgets. Beneficiaries report that Kizilaykart is preferable to hot meal provision in a number of ways; 90 per cent of those interviewed mentioned that the hot meal distribution was not aligned with their traditional preferences, while on the other hand the Kizilaykart allows them access to varied, nutritious food so they can purchase what, when and how they wish to. Shopping in a market with Kizilaykart Image: TRC T ogether W e S tand