Respond to the refugee appeal

George Kent

HAVING attended several meetings in Didim with the organisers of the Syria Didim Box Appeal I find myself in awe of the love and generosity shown not only by the team but by people overall who hail from Didim and in some cases, the surrounding areas.

Boxes are reported as coming at a steady flow to the nominated collection points and having witnessed a selection of boxes at CIRCUS Restaurant showing clear markings of, BOY/MAN/WOMAN/FAMILY and BABY.

It is reported that 200,000 Syrians are already working in Turkey. Syria and the mass evacuation of its people over the last 4 years have widespread media coverage and Didim is no exception to hearing sad tales daily. 

Added to the media reports, boat loads of refugees are being rescued almost daily mainly at Bodrum and in some instances some unfortunately lose their lives through drowning.

It would appear people are rescued and brought through the immigration control points, transported to various towns including Didim, registered and documented and then transported to camps. 

There are several registered camps throughout Turkey, however there as a few un-registered where no humanitarian help is available from any agency because they are not recognised as registered camps. 

Unregistered camps spring up as a result of refugees leaving the registered camps and trying to find work and earn a living in nearby towns. This leads to those same people returning to camps that are unregistered and unrecognised.

These are the refugees that need help and assistance. Turkey is already hosting close to two million refugees from Syria at a cost of more than $5 billion, Turkey has been praised internationally for its humanitarian response to the four-year conflict on its border.

But with the vast majority of those fleeing war eking out a living outside well equipped refugee camps, the aid effort becomes more complicated.

Under a Turkish and U.S. plan to provide air cover for Syrian rebels and sweep Islamic State from a patch in northern Syria, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said earlier that a “secure zone” would pave the way for the return of refugees.

But the United Nations cautioned against calling the area a “safe zone” unless there is a guarantee of protection.

Tourists get what they want

David Clark

Ref: Melike Karakartal article: Iss 434, Page 4

WHILE to a certain amount I agree with the article, a large amount of tourists only want this!

There are still to be found small cafes which will give you good Turkish food and small stores with different things if you look for them. The main reason good stores don’t succeed is because of the five for a tenner mentalilty of the tourists.

The local council here in Didim is trying to encourage tourists to visit the Apollon Temple and further afield. But it’s not only giving people a choice but also changing their mind set also.

There are people living in Didim /Altinkum who have never been to the Apollon Temple and have lived here for a number of years.

This is not only my view but of a lot of my friends, both English and Turkish.

Great idea for open top bus 

Steve Rushton

WHAT a fantastic idea to introduce this service.

I can see it being a huge success with tourists and expats alike. I can’t wait to try it when we go back in September. Well done to the Council.

However, I really wish that Mr Atabay andhis team would consider the long overdue issue of tidying the Second Beach area, which would also be very good for increasing tourism to that part of town.

Excellent hospital care

Dave Robbie, Mavisehir resident

I WAS taken ill with pancreatitis recently and rushed into Didim Devlet Hospital, where I stayed for five nights.

I was so impressed by the quality of care that I received I wanted to give a big public thank to all the doctors, nurses and support staff: they were absolutely wonderful, the food was good too!

I could have gone to Kusadasi private hospital but it is enormously expensive and apart from luxury accommodation it could not have provided better care than I received in Didim and is so far from Mavisehir my wife would not be able to visit me.

This was the third time I have had to use Didim Hospital and every time the experience has been excellent.