Logistical Support for Cross Border Operations for Humanitarian Actors Operating from Turkey into Syria The “Syria Crisis Humanitarian Relief Operation” has been launched by the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) on April 29, 2011 in response to the escalating conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. The TRC has been providing facilitation since 2012 for the logistics of the cross border operations of all humanitarian actors responding to Syria. Due to the escalating humanitarian crisis across the border, the TRC has consistently increased the scope of its activities. Support for these activities was provided by the Turkey Humanitarian Fund (THF) under the framework of the ‘Logistical Support for Cross Border Operations for Humanitarian Actors Operating from Turkey into Syria’ project. Facilitation services of the TRC encompasses assisting humanitarian organizations in the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies into Syria, enabling import and export with waivers, initiating facilitation services in coordination with the applications of the NGO’s for exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT) for the delivery of humanitarian supplies, fast tracking at the border crossings, enabling the use of additional humanitarian aid border crossings, coordination of cross-border shipments to avoid congestion and maintaining a record for the humanitarian relief supplies delivered. Since its inception, 43.496 trucks of humanitarian relief supplies have been delivered across the border through the TRC (40 % Food Items, 36 % NFI, 15 % Health Supplies, 4 % WASH, 4 % Shelter and Education support). As a result, an average of 500 trucks a month of humanitarian relief supplies have reached the beneficiaries. Through the coordination center of the TRC, there are 108 staff employed who work to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies. The TRC operates out of Gaziantep, Kilis, Hatay, Şanlıurfa and Mardin in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid supplies through 14 Border Relief Points. The total amount of border relief assistance facilitated by the TRC has reached an amount in excess of 955 Million USD. The continuation of these activities of the TRC requires a substantial investment in terms of the human resources allocated as well as the logistical infrastructure in place. This project ensures that the operational capacity of the TRC in regards to the Humanitarian Relief Operations for the Syria Crisis is strengthened to support the activities of cross border humanitarian partners which are humanitarian organizations whom seek the facilitation services of the TRC. As a result of this project, and taking into account the analysis carried out during the previous phase of this project to strengthen the current operational modalities (annexes), the humanitarian organizations will be encouraged to use humanitarian channels when delivering relief assistance to the beneficiaries in Syria. This will ensure that the relief supplies reach their destination efficiently (avoiding prolonged waiting times often encountered at commercial channels) and to maintain a record of humanitarian relief supplies delivered. A record of the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies is crucial in determining the gaps in the relief efforts as well as avoiding duplication of services delivered to a war-torn country where demand always exceeds supply. The records are kept confidential, used for assisting needs analysis purposes. The TRC is able to access the areas in need due to its transparent, neutral stance with no affiliation with any political or military factions within Syria. The TRC gives its partners support for abiding by the regulations in place in regards to the cross-border delivery of humanitarian relief supplies into Syria.