Country of origin information report Turkey March 2007

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27.04 The TESEV report however also noted that:
“Despite the lack of specific projects addressing the current conditions of the displaced, many IDPs have benefited from a number of nationwide programmes targeting the poorest segments of the Turkish population. Chief among these is the ‘green card’ which provides free health care and medication to the poor; one time only food, fuel, clothing, stationery and cash grants given by the local chapters of the Social Aid and Solidarity Fund; bi-monthly conditional cash transfers to families who keep their children in school and have their vaccinations done regularly; and annual direct income support to farmers independent of agricultural production… The ‘green card’ may deserve special attention in this context as the farthest-reaching programme among IDPs. Currently, more than 3 million people have the ‘green card’ in 14 provinces in the eastern and south-eastern regions (those provinces from where displacement originated and where the RVRP is being implemented) among a total of 10 million ‘green card’ holders across the nation. Although the number of IDPs within these figures is not known, TESEV Working Group’s interviews suggest that access to the ‘green card’ is relatively widespread among the displaced.” [98a] (p27)
27.05 The European Commission 2006 report recorded that:
“The situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) remains an issue of concern. There has been no further progress on the establishment of a new governmental body responsible for implementing the “Return to Village and Rehabilitation Programme and to developing policy on IDP return. A study on IDPs carried out by the Haceteppe University should provide a thorough analysis and policy guidance, however its publication has been delayed.” [71a] (p24)
27.06 The EC 2006 report continued:
“Several factors affect negatively the return of IDPs: the absence of basic infrastructure, the lack of capital, limited employment opportunities and the security situation. In particular, large numbers of landmines constitute a strong disincentive to return. Moreover, the discretion of the governor plays a crucial role in the implementation of the legal and administrative provisions regulating return. No progress has been made in addressing the problem of village guards. No action was taken to phase them out.” [71a] (p23)
27.07 The EC 2006 report further noted that:
“A return to normality in the Southeast can only be achieved by opening a dialogue with local counterparts. A comprehensive strategy should be pursued, to achieve the socio-economic development of the region and the establishment of conditions for the Kurdish population to enjoy full rights and freedoms. Issues that need to be addressed include the return of internally displaced persons, compensation for losses incurred by victims of terrorism, landmines as well as the issue of village guards.” [71a] (p23)
27.08 The BIA News Center reported that:
“There is still no official data on mined land and mine numbers in Turkey said Muteber Ogreten of the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey adding that this is one the most serious obstacles for relocating the internally displaced persons. Muteber Ogreten pointed out that displaced persons would live on a life threat on their return as both are consequences of the 20 year long conflict in southeastern Turkey. Ogreten noted that Turkey should abolish all mine stocks till March 2008 and clear all mined land till 2014. According to United Nations reports, there are 984 thousand 313 mines already laid on Turkish soil. Stock numbers go up to 2 million 979 thousand. Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey research shows that there are mines fitted around 182 settlements which are depopulated. At least 68 people died in 62 incidents related to land mines in 2005. 28 of those were civilians, of whom 9 were children.” [102n]
27.09 On 29 September 2006 the Turkish Daily News reported that:
“The eastern Anatolian province of Van will today host a meeting at which senior government and U.N. officials will together announce Turkey's first action plan on the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The plan, drawn up by the governorship of Van, will be launched at the meeting, which will be attended by Interior Minister Abdülkadir Aksu as well as UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey Mahmood Ayub and U.N. Representative on Internally Displaced Persons Walter Kälin.
This action plan concerning the IDPs displays Turkey's determination for contributing to the entire reform process in the country including fulfillment of the European Union's political criteria, the UNDP Turkey office said yesterday in a statement… This summer, the long-awaited results of independent research conducted by Ankara's Hacettepe University reflected the gravity of forced migration in Turkey by revealing that the country's displaced population was no less than 800,000 a figure that is above the figure released by the government of around 350,000. At least 800,000 people have been internally displaced since 1986 as a result of the conflict between security forces and PKK members in the country's Southeast, according to research by Hacettepe University's Institute of Population Studies obtained by Turkish daily Milliyet.” [23r]
Compensation
27.10 As noted in the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report dated 14 December 2006, Turkey: Displaced Villagers Denied Fair Compensation:

“Despite its compensation law, the Turkish government is failing to provide fair compensation for hundreds of thousands of mainly Kurdish villagers displaced by the military’s brutal counterinsurgency campaigns in the southeast,… Payments under the Compensation Law to this group were intended to cover losses arising from the original displacement, as well as those incurred during the decade or more that families were unable to return to their property. The Turkish government stated that the intent of the law was to “to deepen trust in the state, to strengthen the state-citizen relationship, to contribute to social peace and the fight against terrorism.” [9f]

27.11 The European Commission 2006 report recorded that:
“The conditions attached to the eligibility for compensation could leave a large number of potential beneficiaries outside the scope of the Law. There is also a heavy burden of proof on applicants to provide documentation, including property titles, which in many cases have never existed. The issue of ‘reconciliation’ is not addressed in the compensation approach in relation to past human rights violations committed against internally displaced persons – such as the burning and destruction of property, killings, disappearances and torture.” [71a] (p23)
27.12 However the USSD 2005 report recorded that “The Interior Ministry reported that the review commissions received a total of 177,085 applications for compensation under the law through November [2005]. By year’s [2005] end the commissions had processed 12,642 of these applications, approving 4,514 and rejecting 8,128.” [5b] (Section 2d)