MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides visited Ankara to take part in the official launch of the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) aid project, which is part of the EU-Turkey migrant deal, and visited a number of facilities for refugees funded by international aid organizations.
"Today in Ankara, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides has launched the EU's flagship humanitarian aid programme, which is set to provide a monthly electronic cash grant to benefit 1 million refugees in Turkey. The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) aid project has an initial budget of €348 million… As of October 2016, monthly cash-transfers to electronic cards will be given to refugees in need across Turkey," the press service said in a statement.
In mid-March, the European Union and Ankara agreed on a deal under which Turkey pledged to take back all undocumented migrants who arrive in the European Union through its territory in exchange for Syrian refugees accommodated in Turkey, on a one-for-one basis. In return, the European Union pledged to provide a total of 3 billion euros to Turkey to help it deal with refugees, with a possible further 3 billion-euro provision in 2018.
