Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is visiting a camp for refugees from Syria near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep on 13 April.

Dr. Osotimehin will speak with refugees, aid workers and Turkish officials in the Nizip camp to assess the impact of UNFPA’s assistance and identify needs that the Fund can address, in particular related to reproductive health and sexual and gender-based violence.

Some 14,000 people fleeing the violence in neighbouring Syria have found refuge in the camp, almost three quarters of them women and children.

During the visit, the Executive Director will also meet with members of the Turkish Parliament and the mayor of Gaziantep.

UNFPA has already delivered 40,000 hygiene kits to refugees in the 14 camps set up by the Turkish authorities; another 20,000 will be delivered soon. The kits include sanitary items helping refugees to maintain daily hygiene routines under the harsh conditions of camp life.

UNFPA also trains Turkish health personnel working in the camps on life-saving skills and ensuring refugee’s access to reproductive health. Moreover, the Fund supports the authorities in their efforts to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in the camps and provide assistance to victims.

According to official figures, the number of Syrian refugees registered in Turkish camps stands at over 191,000.

On 14 April, Dr. Osotimehin is scheduled to visit the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan.

Media accreditation for Nizip Camp visit is strictly reserved for members of the press who represent a bona fide media organization.

Only registered journalists can access the camp area with the delegation; walk-up requests will not be accepted.

Kindly send your names, media organization and contact details to fax number +90 312 496 14 85 or to tavlas@unfpa.org, eschenbaecher@unfpa.org, sicotte-levesque@unfpa.org before 12 April 2013, 18:00.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, please contact:

In Ankara: Nezih Tavlas, + 90 543 452 11 45, tavlas@unfpa.org

In Istanbul: Jens-Hagen Eschenbaecher, +90 549 748 36 55, eschenbaecher@unfpa.org

In New York: Omar Gharzeddine, +1 212 297 5028, gharzeddine@unfpa.org or Mandy Kibel: +1 212 297 5293, kibel@unfpa.org