WFP’s e-food card helps vulnerable refugees navigate uncertain times
The programme, run by the World Food Programme in refugee camps across southeast Turkey, enables 76,000 refugees to choose what they eat — and gain a measure of independence.
Teysir and his family have spent the last four years living a life of uncertainty in a refugee camp far from their home in Idlib. Like so many others, they are thankful for the small but significant relief provided by the e-food card.
“Could life be better? Of course it could. We live in a camp away from our homes. But we are safe, we have the e-food card. I can’t really complain,” Teysir says.
The e-food card is a cash assistance programme implemented by the World Food Programme in refugee camps across southeast Turkey in partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent.
The card provides a monthly allowance of TRY 50 (US$ 8.4) per person to buy food in participating shops. The Turkish government provides an additional TRY 50 on a separate card for food and non-food items.
Teysir and his family are among the 76,000 refugees in Turkey’s camps who receive food assistance from WFP, thanks to generous contributions from Germany, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea and USAID.
The e-food card gives refugees choice and some independence.
Varied diets thanks to card
Thanks to sustained e-food card assistance since 2012, some 99 percent of households have acceptable food consumption.
Monitoring shows that refugees in camps generally have diverse diets; and women are involved in decisions on the use of assistance in 82.6 percent of households.
Nadia, Teysir’s wife, says they feel indebted and overwhelmed by the support they have received, whether it be the facilities available in the camp or the e-food card.
“We arrived with no expectations four years ago. We came straight to the camp since we had no money to even consider anything else. But it has been good, thank God,” she says. “We are safe and we have the e-food card.”
Most of the refugee camps in Turkey are a far cry from the usual images of tents erected in fields with the most basic of facilities.
They consist of prefabricated container units, each one is supplied with electricity, water and plumbing.
The camps also have schools, markets, health clinics and access to an ambulance in case of emergency.
Refugees are allowed to leave the camp during the day, and even for extended periods.
The Kahramanmaras camp, where Teysir lives with his wife and three of his children, can accommodate around 25,000 people in 5,800 container units. The camp’s current population is approximately 14,000.
Advocacy with NGO helps refugee girl get eye surgery
Advocacy on behalf of the refugees is also something WFP and Turkish Red Crescent field staff in camps do on a voluntary basis.
When WFP field staff learned of Hadil`s eye problem three months ago they started advocating on her behalf and it eventually allowed her to have cornea replacement surgery in her right eye.
WFP`s advocacy led to financial backing and the actual surgery from an NGO called Yeryuzu Doktorlari Foundation. It was all made possible thanks to the Turkish government`s novel and open approach towards camp management and refugees.
Hadil, Nadia and Teysir`s 17-year-old daughter, had full use of one eye but the pain in the other eye often caused her to miss school and left her in mental anguish.
“There were times when I couldn’t even go to school because my eye hurt so much. Now there is no more pain and I am so happy,” says Hadil.
Nadia is very appreciative of the care her daughter has received, knowing they never would have been able to afford it on their own.
“I sold all the jewelry that my family had accumulated over the years to pay for her visits to he doctor. But I would never have been able to afford the cost of the surgery,” says Nadia. “Until these friends [WFP and Turkish Red Crescent field monitors — ed] learned about the problem and helped us. I was told the surgery cost $2,600, which was thankfully paid for.”
Another positive development arising from the eye surgery is the family’s firm commitment to support Hadil’s education, and a vow to not marry her off at an early age.
“We have already turned down three suitors. We will not let Hadil marry early and support her in her education,” says Teysir.
Nadia nods vigorously in agreement, and Hadil, who will start 12th grade next year, smiles as she adds:
“I really enjoy going to school.”
