Deal to support 1,500 Palestinian families in Turkey

By Etem Geylan

ISTANBUL (AA) - An agreement was signed with Turkish organization in Istanbul on Wednesday to support 1,500 Palestinian families who migrated to Turkey.

The deal was signed between the Turkish Red Crescent, Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Credit Guarantee Fund, Turkey's Disaster Management Agency (AFAD), the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), WAFA Group and the Statistical Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).

Turkish Red Crescent said the signing ceremony was held during the 33rd Ministerial Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul.

Turkish Red Crescent, AFAD and TOBB chiefs also attended the signing ceremony.

Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik said they want Palestinians to have decent jobs.

"With this broad participated support, our Palestinian siblings can look after themselves and their families," Kinik said.

The first step of the project is protection, second step is business and capacity development. In this phase, the Islamic Development Bank will provide education and mentorship; people, who can set up businesses and develop projects will get support.

The third step is providing funding and credit; Turkey's Credit Guarantee Fund will help in this step. TOBB will undertake the last step, which is about providing network between occupation and entrepreneurs.

The project will start on Dec. 1, 2017.