Minister Göktaş reunited 7 children with family ties in Syria with their relatives

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş brought together 7 children under state care and protection with their relatives in Damascus, the capital of Syria, where he went to make official contacts. Minister Göktaş also visited the Life Melody Orphanage, the new settlement of children under state care and protection in Damascus. During the visit, Minister Göktaş was accompanied by his Syrian counterpart Hind Kabavat and Türkiye's Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yılmaz. The two ministers made a joint press statement after the orphanage visit and the handover of the children to Syrian authorities.

Stating that the biggest victims of wars are women and children, Minister Göktaş stated that Türkiye stood by the Syrian people during the war. Referring to the voluntary return process of children who are under protection and care in Türkiye and have family ties in Syria, Göktaş said, "After the social examination, we entrusted our 3 girls and 4 boys to the Syrian state within the scope of return. They have family ties here. In this context, we started a voluntary return process within the scope of the memorandum of understanding we signed with our brother Hind in May in terms of social services."

Emphasizing that the environment a child needs most is a loving family environment, Göktaş stated that they aim to reunite Syrian children with their families, and said, "We wholeheartedly believe that a peaceful, happy future awaits them. We will always continue to work for the best interest of our children."

'PRIORITY; 'LET CHILDREN GROW IN LOVING, SAFE ENVIRONMENTS'

Emphasizing that the main priority of the Ministry is to ensure that children grow up in loving and safe environments, Göktaş stated that the return process of children was initiated with the stabilization of Syria and the development of relations between the two countries. Noting that cooperation will continue in many areas within the scope of the memorandum of understanding signed between Türkiye and Syria, Göktaş stated that returns will continue on a voluntary basis, considering the best interests of the children.

Stating that other groups of children will gradually return to Syria after the completion of the necessary social review processes, Göktaş said, "Works for women, children, disabled people and the elderly will also be developed together with the Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor."

Minister Göktaş stated that they will visit the Care Center within the scope of their visit to Syria and discuss the work to develop cooperation between the two countries.

'WE WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO STAND BY THE SYRIAN PEOPLE'

Thanking the Syrian people for Türkiye's hospitality, Göktaş said, "Türkiye sends many greetings. We will always continue to stand by the Syrian people."