Press Release
October 13, 2026 • 2 min read
When money is stretched, paying for healthcare can mean having less available for food or rent. For some refugee families in Türkiye, this pressure is shaping everyday decisions.
Needs assessments by GOAL and the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM) found that difficulties accessing health insurance are leading some families to borrow money for healthcare or cut spending on other essential needs.
With funding from EU Humanitarian Aid, GOAL and ASAM will provide urgent cash assistance to 553 households, reaching 2,765 people in Kayseri, Mersin and Şanlıurfa.
Giving families choice
The Urgent Cash Assistance for Vulnerable and At-Risk Refugees in Türkiye (UCART+) project supports households affected by recent changes in health insurance and social assistance systems. These changes have increased financial pressure on families already struggling to meet essential costs.
Cash assistance allows each household to decide what it needs most urgently, whether that is food, healthcare, rent or another essential expense.
Priority will be given to women-headed households and households that include older people or persons with disabilities. Participants will be selected through assessments using established eligibility criteria.
The programme will provide urgent cash assistance to 553 households, reaching 2,765 people in Kayseri, Mersin and Şanlıurfa.
Support beyond cash
Alongside cash assistance, participants will receive information on health insurance, social support mechanisms and public services. People requiring protection support will be referred to relevant institutions and service providers.
The project will also examine how changes in health insurance policy affect vulnerable refugee households. Findings will be shared with relevant institutions and humanitarian organisations to help inform future policies and programmes.
Running from June 2026 to May 2027, UCART+ brings together EU humanitarian funding, GOAL and ASAM to help families meet immediate needs while connecting them with further support.
GOAL and ASAM will coordinate with public institutions, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations throughout implementation. Dignity, inclusion, safety, privacy and data protection will guide the work.
UCART+ is funded by the European Union through its humanitarian aid operations.
About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid
The European Union and its Member States are among the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.
