Syria and Turkey Strengthen Social and Child Welfare Cooperation
The Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Qabawat, and the Turkish Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, conducted a joint field visit to Damascus and its surrounding countryside this week. The visit, accompanied by the Turkish Ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yılmaz, aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on social and humanitarian issues.
A key focus of the visit was the General Authority for the ‘Melody of Life’ (Lahn al-Hayat) residential complex in Qudsaya, Rif Dimashq. During the tour, the ministers reviewed the comprehensive care and rehabilitation services provided to children and discussed strategies to ensure a safe and supportive environment for them. A significant humanitarian step took place during the visit, as seven Syrian children who had previously been residing in Turkish care homes were transferred to the complex.
The delegation also visited the Umayyad Mosque in Old Damascus, where they were received by the Minister of Awqaf, Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed. Minister al-Sayyed highlighted the importance of such diplomatic visits in opening new avenues for cooperation that benefit both countries and the broader Arab and Islamic world. The tour included stops at several historical and religious sites, such as the shrines of Saladin and Sultan Baibars, the Sayyida Ruqayya Mosque, and the Saint Paul Chapel, alongside a visit to the traditional markets of Damascus.
In media statements, Minister Qabawat emphasized that the visit signifies a positive step toward strengthening the partnership between the two nations. She praised Turkey’s efforts in hosting Syrians throughout the years of the crisis. She further noted that the three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides provides a practical framework for developing joint projects in the fields of family, women’s affairs, and childhood development.
Minister Göktaş expressed Turkey’s commitment to exchanging expertise with the Syrian side, particularly in areas related to family support, professional empowerment for women, elderly care, and the integration of people with disabilities into society. She stressed the importance of unified efforts to secure a better future for children.
This visit serves as a culmination of the memorandum of understanding signed last April in Antalya. The agreement is designed to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise in social services, with the goal of improving support for families, children, women, and persons with disabilities. It also aims to enhance the effectiveness of the relevant institutions in both countries and ensure the full social integration of these demographics.
