Famous Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan, who arrived in Istanbul last week, visited a Syrian refugee family with Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Abdurrahim Boynukalın in coordination with Bosphorus Center for Global Affairs.
Lohan shared a photo of her visit on the popular photo sharing app Instagram with the message of ‘world is bigger than five,’ a phrase frequently used by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to draw attention to the unequal distribution of power and the lack of fair representation at the United Nations Security Council, which has the decision-making power to influence world affairs.
Lohan visited the Hussein family in Istanbul’s Sultanbeyli district. The Husseins are amongst the 3 million refugees who fled Syria after being severely injured by the ongoing conflict and sought asylum in Turkey.
“Meet the Hussein Family. The father, Mohammad, was injured severely in Aleppo and his wife left him and her three kids after they migrated to Turkey. The lovely girl is Heya (9) and her twin brother is Leys,” Lohan said on her Instagram post, adding that the Sultanbeyli Municipality covers their housing and grocery expenses, but the conditions of their house are ‘very bad.’
Lindsay Lohan visits refugee family in Istanbul, says world is bigger than 5
Lohan with Syrian refugee children
She noted that the 17-year-old son was not at home at the time of her visit because he was working to take care of his family. The 30-year-old actress gave presents to the Hussein family and others in the district.
Lohan ended her post with a hashtag saying #theworldisbiggerthan5, which is consistently used by President Erdoğan to draw attention to global inequality.
She also visited a health clinic for refugees administered by Sultanbeyli Municipality.
Lindsay Lohan visits refugee family in Istanbul, says world is bigger than 5
Lohan visiting the health clinic in Istanbul’s Sultanbeyli district
In a previous post, Lohan shared a photo of the Turkish flag with a message emphasizing the refugees suffering in Syria: Start helping the refugees suffering in Syria” she said and added: stop#massacreinaleppo.
President Erdoğan frequently criticizes the U.N. structure, saying that it is an obstacle to resolving ongoing problems around the world and emphasizes more representation for the oppressed throughout the world.
Hosting almost half of the 4.2 million displaced Syrians in the region over the past three years; Turkey has borne the largest share of the refugee burden.
The number of Syrian refugees living in Turkey has exceeded the sum of the populations of the 15 least populated Turkish provinces.
Contributing nearly $9 billion to humanitarian aid during the ongoing Syrian crisis, Turkey’s aid for Syrian refugees has been 20 times more than the aid received from international organizations, according to the Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
