Syrian refugees in Turkey face health challenges

Refugee and Migrant Crisis

As the conflict in Syria continues, so does the struggle to survive for millions of Syrian refugees. Those who flee into Turkey are welcomed to safety, but face many other challenges.

CCTV’s Michal Bardavid filed this report from Istanbul.

Follow Michal Bardavid on Twitter @michalbardavid

Highlights:

  • The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey has surpassed one million and 750 thousand. Approximately 255,000 of them live in 25 camps across 10 provinces.
  • Thousands of Syrian refugees opt to leave camps in border areas and come to the big cities such as Istanbul in hopes of finding jobs.
  • Refugees who leave the camp face the risk major health issues, including tuberculosis (TB).
  • Turkish or not, treatment for TB is available free of charge in Turkey. Due to its contagious nature, it is still considered a very risky illness. For the first time in 30 years, the number of TB cases in Turkey has increased.
  • Syrian refugees are  often unable to receive consistent treatment for TB to fully recover, creating a risk for themselves and the people around them.
  • According to a report by the Center for Migration and Political Research in Turkey, Syrian refugees in the country are expected to stay.
  • Health officials in Turkey emphasize specific social service programs for Syrians must be implemented as a preventive measure, as some contagious diseases are on the rise.