Turkey Calls on UN to Create Refugee Camps in Syria

Turkey on Thursday called on the UN Security Council to create refugee camps in safe zones in Syria, warning that it could not cope with the flow of people fleeing the conflict.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a Security Council meeting that more than 80,000 Syrians are now in camps in Turkey and his country faced “seriously difficulty” coping with the 4,000 crossing the border each day and 10,000 waiting at the frontier.

“The UN should initiate the establishment of IDP camps within Syria without delay. Needless to say these camps should have full protection,” he said.

He spoke after Britain, France and UN officials highlighted the diplomatic and legal obstacles that prevented the immediate creation of safe zones. Their foreign ministers said the divided Security Council would not agree a resolution allowing the necessary military protection for safe zones.

Davutoglu slammed the Security Council for its failure to agree international action on the 17-month-old conflict, which activists say has left more than 25,000 dead.

The Turkish minister also highlighted the absence of many ministers from the meeting which was called by France to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Among the 15 council members, only France, Britain, Colombia, Morocco and Togo sent ministers.

Russia and China have vetoed three UN resolutions which could have led to economic sanctions against Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. They have also insisted they will not allow military intervention.

“While I regret the absence of some of my colleagues I would like to believe that their non-participation is not an indication of their level of interest and concern,” the Turkish minister said.

“How long are we going to sit and watch while an entire generation is being wiped out by random bombardment and deliberate mass targeting,” Davutoglu said.

“Let’s not forget that if we do not act against such a crime against humanity happening in front of our eyes, we become accomplice to the crime.”

Agence France-Presse