“Thanks to the C-ESSN Assistance I can Put Food on the Table without Need to Run in Debt”

“Complementary Emergency Social Safety Net (C-ESSN)” Project, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Ministry of Family and Social Services in cooperation with Türk Kızılay, supports the most vulnerable foreigners living in our country to meet their basic needs. Gessan Ömer (52), is only one of our beneficiaries saying that he can now put food on the table without need to run in debt thanks to the C-ESSN support.

Mr. Omer hosted us at their apartment rented in Kahramanmaraş and as he recalls his old days he says “We had a nice and happy life with my family in Latakia until 2012. I used to work as an electrician at an iron factory; we owned the house, my income was well enough to maintain my family and most importantly, all of my children were healthy. But our happy days got darkened with the start of the first clashes in 2011. In 2012, Latakia turned into an unhabitable place especially if you had young children.”

“We walked in the night”

Mr. Omer says they decided to reach Turkey on foot as it was not safe to travel by car and adds; “We didn't take any of our belongings with us, except for the food and a few clothes, which we packed in small backpacks to avoid excessive weight and to be able to hide them easily. We walked at night because it was safer”

“My Son Still Wakes up with Nightmares”

Mr. Omer says that his family made it to Turkey without a physical wound, but his son is still suffering post-traumatic stress.

“My Son has become Disabled while We were Escaping”

Omer family realized only when they were placed in the tent city that their son Cevad, who was only 1 year old back then, was running a serious fever. Mr. Omer says no matter how they tried to protect Cevad, who had been a healthy child until then, he caught cold during the night walks and tells “My son was suffering a seizure when we reached the tent. It comes out his fever caused a brain damage. Because of this he has become disabled.”

“ESSN and CCTE Raised a Ray of Hope”

In 2013, the family decided to leave the tent city and move to Kahramanmaraş where the state hospital is located as they realized Cevad’s development was different than his peers. Mr. Omer says that he learned about the KIZILAYKART Programs during the hospital visits they took Cevad. Mr. Gessan also notes that they "saw the ray of hope once again" in their lives. Gessan tells they were accepted to the Emergency Social Safety Network (ESSN) Program at that time and their children, who started school, benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) and says that thanks to these supports, he was able to balance the rent, electricity and water costs of his house and meet the school needs of his children.

“C-ESSN was Right on Time”

Mr. Omer was however in debt due to private expenses for the treatment of Cevad. He says they were unable to meet the most basic food needs and adds "Even though the shopkeepers around us were tolerant towards me as we are neighbors, this situation made me very uneasy. Even if I found daily jobs and brought home some money, it was not enough to pay off my debts. I started to receive C-ESSN asisstance right in the middle of this troubled period. Now I can put food on the table without running into a debt. I can get my son's medicines. May Allah be pleased with everyone who provided C-ESSN aid and who thought of us and extended a hand.”

Gessan says that his only wish is to "Work" and to make sure his son Cevad receives education at special education schools, and his biggest dream is that we do not witness any other war not only in Syria, but all over the world.