Skopje, 9 March 2023 (MIA) – The Ministry of Education and Science and the Government will provide assistance to students from the earthquake struck areas in Türkiye who are studying in North Macedonia, said the Ministry on Thursday.

“We already offered them temporary free accommodation and food in the state-owned student dorms, as well as legal aid which they themselves requested,” said Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri during his visit to the International Balkan University, where there are currently around 100 Turkish students.

Minister Shaqiri visited the University in order to meet with students that come from the affected areas in Türkiye, the Ministry of Education and Science said in a press release.

“Many of these students lost family members, their homes, some lost literally everything and they need our support. I came to speak to them, to hear their needs and to inform them that we as a Ministry can help alleviate the situation,” said Shaqiri.

According to the information the Minister received from the students, they mainly need additional finances for everyday expenses and to that end, they were offered free accommodation and food in the state-owned student dorms.

“The Ministry will also submit an initiative to the Government to provide a one-time time payment as aid for each student from the affected areas, but we will additionally inform the students and the public about the decision,” said the Minister.

We remain friends with Türkiye and the Turkish people, said Shaqiri, and we will continue to help each other whenever there is a need.

The Ministry of Education and Science said that only in Skopje and Shtip there are around 200 Turkish students who come from the affected areas and some of them have already requested support from their faculties. ad/ik/ 

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science