IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 632 
Commending the Government of Turkey for its efforts to facilitate, host, 
and care for refugees fleeing the Al-Assad regime’s escalating violence 
in Syria. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 25, 2012 
Mr. MEEKS (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Ms. FOXX, and Mr. 
COHEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Commending the Government of Turkey for its efforts to 
facilitate, host, and care for refugees fleeing the Al- 
Assad regime’s escalating violence in Syria. 
Whereas the ongoing brutality of the Syrian Government 
against its own citizenry targets innocent civilians, result-
ing in the loss of nearly 9,000 Syrians, including women 
and children, destroying communities and livelihoods, 
triggering massive population displacement within Syria 
and throughout the region, and creating a deepening hu-
manitarian crisis; 
Whereas the international community has called for an end 
to the violence against civilians, facilitation of humani-
tarian access, and support for a genuine political transi-
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•HRES 632 IH 
tion that protects the rights of all Syrians and Turkey 
has been a forceful proponent of these demands; 
Whereas the humanitarian needs continue to grow, with as 
many as 3,000,000 individuals in Syria affected by vio-
lence, including a United Nations-estimated 300,000 in-
ternally displaced persons, and with the number of Syr-
ians seeking refuge in neighboring countries exceeding 
60,000 individuals as of mid-April 2012; 
Whereas the United States has committed substantial hu-
manitarian assistance to relieve suffering and to protect 
civilians, and will continue to support fleeing and dis-
placed Syrians in need; 
Whereas the Government of Turkey, as of mid-April 2012, is 
hosting nearly 25,000 Syrian refugees in camps in east-
ern provinces and has allowed visa-free entry of tens of 
thousands of Syrians who have fled Syria but not sought 
refuge in the camps; 
Whereas despite significant increases in the number of Syr-
ians seeking refuge in Turkey, the Turkish Government 
is demonstrating generous abundant hospitality, accept-
ing full responsibility for assisting displaced Syrians with-
in its borders, maintaining an open border to fleeing Syr-
ians, and responding robustly to their humanitarian 
needs; 
Whereas Turkey has hosted Syrian opposition groups to fa-
cilitate realization of a vision for a democratic Syria, and 
hosted a major international Friends of the Syrian Peo-
ple Conference in Istanbul on April 1, 2012, with partici-
pation of 83 countries and international organizations; 
Whereas Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has 
stated that Syrian President Bashir Al-Assad must step 
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•HRES 632 IH 
down, if he fails to meet the legitimate demands of the 
Syrian people; 
Whereas the Turkish Government and the Turkish Red Cres-
cent are cooperating closely with the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International 
Committee of the Red Cross to address the needs of flee-
ing and displaced Syrians; 
Whereas the Turkish Government has called for Syria to fa-
cilitate the delivery of critical care, and essential goods 
and services, and to allow the treatment of wounded and 
unimpeded exodus of civilians; 
Whereas the initial humanitarian assistance provided through 
the Turkish Red Crescent to address the needs of Syrians 
who have fled the violence has exceeded international 
standards for refugee relief; 
Whereas the Turkish population in the areas of Hatay, 
Gaziantep, Kilis, and Sanliurfa has been extremely gen-
erous and hospitable, offering housing, food, bicycles, 
school supplies, and other assistance to the refugees; and 
Whereas Turkey is an emerging global humanitarian actor 
that has played important roles in various international 
relief efforts, including in Afghanistan, Somalia, and 
Sudan: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) commends the leadership of the Government 
of Turkey in calling for an end to the violence in 
Syria and the restoration of human rights and de-
mocracy; 
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(2) commends the Turkish Government’s re-
sponsiveness to the humanitarian needs of Syrian 
refugees; 
(3) supports the response of international orga-
nizations including the United Nations High Com-
missioner for Refugees, and the international family 
of Red Cross, and Red Crescent organizations in 
their efforts to support internally displaced persons 
within Syria and Syrian refugees throughout the re-
gion; and 
(4) acknowledges Turkey as an emerging global 
humanitarian actor. 
Æ 
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