International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation has launched a rehabilitation and consultation center for more than 50 thousand Syrian refuges living in Akçakale city center. Opening ceremony was held with the participation of Akçakale Subgoverner Eyüp Fırat, Akçakale Mayor Abdülhakim Ayhan and International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation Vice President Muzaffer Baca.
The overall objective of the center is to alleviate suffering, reduce symptoms, enhance functionality and restore dignity of the Syria Refugees living in Akçakale through the provision of psycho-social care. There are 15 employees working in the center including two psychologist and one nurse.
Center provides individual and group therapeutic counseling, psychosocial support and community outreach, support to newly arriving refugees in Akçakale and referral of parties in need of psychiatric treatment. For this purpose, an old building has been restored and turned to a rehabilitation center by IBC.
Akçakale Subgoverner Eyüp Fırat stated that, nearly 30 thousands of refugees stay in SülaymanŞah refugee camp and almost 50 thousands of refugees in Akçakale city center. All Syrians are going to reach psycho-social support through this center. Because of this reason he thanked to International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation and mentioned the importance of non-governmental organizations.
At the ceremony, participants let white pigeons fly for wishes to end of the civil war. International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation Vice President Muzaffer Baca stated that “I hope this war ends within the shortest time and Syrian brothers could return their homeland.”
Center consists of child playgrounds, event rooms, consultation rooms and administration offices with 15 employees including two psychologists, one nurse and one interpreter. In addition to that there is a field crew for searching Syrian families and determine of the target group who needs a psychological support. The center services are free for refugees.
Nur Tilas who escaped with her family from civil war in Syria and joined Akçakale Rehabilitation and Consultation Center staff as a psychologist, now she works for the beneficiary of refugees. She tries to help them to get over their problems gathered by force migration. She highlights that this center is very important and adds “I had to migrate two years ago. Because of migration lots of Syrians have trauma, especially children and youngsters and this center is a very good way to reach and cure them.”
