Croatian min. hails Turkey's contributions to Syrians

By Izzet Mazi

KILIS, Turkey (AA) - Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic on Wednesday expressed appreciation over Turkey's help to Syrian people.

"The services and social activities that the government of the Republic of Turkey have provided here are really praiseworthy.

"I would like to thank Turkish government and authorities," Bozinovic told Anadolu Agency after his visit to Oncupinar refugee camp in southeastern Kilis province near the Syrian border.

Bozinovic also visited a container camp in the Nizip district of southeastern Gaziantep province.

He said Syrian people living in these camps feel at home.

"In these camps, Republic of Turkey not only provides the necessary conditions for living, at the same time it establishes a very strong bond for the future relations between Syrians and Turks," Bozinovic said.

He added that this bond will accelerate in the upcoming period.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.

Turkey currently hosts some 3.6 million Syrian refugees, according to estimates.

Bozinovic said the number of newborn children are really high in the camps.

"It was stated that only in the Kilis camp, 3,200 children were born. These numbers are really serious," he added.