The Foreign Service Journal, April 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2016 25 small city located right on the border with Syria, we conducted office visits and enjoyed a home-cooked Turkish meal, before visiting a youth center where Syrian refugees between 14 and 30 years old can enjoy things like language classes, computer classes, a football club and other activities. They also receive psycho- social support to help them address lingering war trauma they have suf- fered as they adjust to a new life. In Kirikan we visited child- friendly spaces that U.S. funding has helped to develop to do much the same thing for younger kids. It warms your spirit to see these children who have endured so much smiling, laughing and play- ing. We also met recent refugees from Kobane who had set up their own tents on the side of some cotton fields, where they were working illegally. We chatted with them in Kurdish, thanks to my versatile driver Mustafa. On these trips I always open by letting people know that I am American, I work for the U.S. government, and my focus is on assisting refugees and learning their stories so I can help my government understand their needs and concerns, the great challenges they face in everyday life, and what they wanted and hoped for in the future. I am generally received warmly—even if there is a bit of skep- ticism or opposition to some U.S. policies in the region—whether it is a Syrian Sunni Arab refugee, a Palestinian refugee who fled his homeland and then had to flee Syria, as well, or a Syrian Kurd. Winter 2014—Pockets of Need While the government of Turkey has spent significant sums supporting the Syrian refugees who have crossed into its territory and reside in refugee camps, it has largely avoided providing assistance to the nearly 400,000 who have settled in trendy cities like Izmir and Istanbul. The Turks worry that providing refugee services there will draw even more to these burgeoning and wealthy cities. Yet the refugees still flock there with dreams of finding better work opportunities on the gray market, as Syrians are not allowed to work legally at the moment. (That will likely change soon; I am advocating for it daily.) Consequently, we are focused more on these cities this year. Over the past two weeks I opened refugee community centers in both Izmir and Istanbul. The cen- ters give refugees information about what services they are entitled to and provide Arabic-language social workers, psychological workers and nurses—a must because the language barrier often prevents refugees from even knowing where they can obtain such things as basic medical care. Opening the center was an incredible opportunity to enlist the support of members of civil society and local government authorities, as well as a way to communicate directly with the refugees. Spring 2015—Addressing Social Tensions I traveled to Antakya and Kilis to visit projects we fund. An ancient city, Antakya was one of the largest in the Roman empire in its heyday, and an important pilgrimage site because it was the first city where followers of Jesus called themselves Christians. I visit the city every couple of months, but this time only over- nighted there before heading to Reyhanli. Because of its proximity to the border, Reyhanli has been a first refuge for thousands of Syrians, who have taken up residence there, overwhelming the local population. Sadly, it has also been the target of terrorist activity. In May 2013, two car bombs were detonated, killing 51 and injuring an additional 140—the deadli- est single terrorist attack on Turkish soil. To relieve some of the tension between Turks and Syrians here, we have funded a youth center to give psychological assis- tance to young refugees and train them in Turkish and English language and computer skills. The center hosts a soccer league, too. Made up of Turkish and Syrian youth, the soccer teams offer opportunities for friendships and common links to develop. After visiting with participants at the center, I made house visits to especially vulnerable refugees. Humanitarian aid workers seek to assist those inmost need, often searching out single mothers with children, the disabled and the elderly to ensure that they, too, are being provided for. In this instance I visited a widow and her young daughter who had suf- fered eye damage from a barrel bomb in Syria. An NGO provided tailoring equipment to the mother, which allowed her to work from home, earning income while caring for her daughter. Because she generates the income herself, this project is sustainable. Medical care providers and teachers have been unable to keep pace with the incredible demand for services, which has led to a rise in tensions.