Indeed, 2023 was an unprecedented year for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Türkiye. We embarked on the year with a focus on transitioning the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) program, our largest cash program in the world, and quickly found ourselves in the midst of a large-scale emergency response operation following the 6 February earthquakes in southeast Türkiye.
Stronger Together
The earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria were the worst in modern history and resulted in devastating outcomes. The Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) was on the frontlines of the response; within half an hour their soup kitchens across the affected provinces became operational, and the IFRC Secretariat and its members quickly sprang into action to support TRC’s operation.
As a membership organization made up of 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, we are, in our very DNA, as local as possible, and as global as needed. This was the very definition of the response to the earthquakes in Türkiye—when TRC called for assistance, the IFRC Network answered its call.
The IFRC immediately issued two million CHF from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) and within days, IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal that was quickly revised up to 400 million CHF in support of TRC’s response.
In parallel, countless Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies from all over the world rushed to help their sister national society and affected communities, sending planes loaded with relief items, participating in search and rescue efforts, helping with assessments in the field, and launching domestic appeals.
The response from the IFRC network was a powerful reminder of our ability to reach scale and impact through collective action, providing further confirmation that we are truly stronger together.
Closing the ESSN Chapter
In parallel to the large-scale earthquake response, the ESSN program continued, staying the course on the provision of cash assistance to the most vulnerable refugees, responding to new shocks, and advancing efforts to make the transition to a locally led social safety net program of the future.
Over the last three years, together, with the support of the European Union, the IFRC and TRC have taken humanitarian cash programming to new levels, providing inspiration and learning to others in the IFRC network and beyond through production of learning resources, peer-to-peer exchange and contribution to advancement of tools. The ESSN has become a best practice example both locally and globally, advancing the CVA and social safety net agenda.
In 2023, following the devastating earthquakes that struck in February, TRC and IFRC not only continued to provide essential cash assistance without delay but also provided additional support to both refugees and the host community in earthquake-affected areas. The program’s adaptability to navigate these challenges and shocks is a testament to a proven shock responsive model under the ESSN and the dedication and collaborative spirit of all partners involved.
Moreover, part of the IFRC’s mandate is capacity building and strengthening at local levels. Throughout IFRC’s tenure, we have invested in the capacities of our national partners, particularly Turkish authorities and TRC. We prioritized the development of technical expertise humanitarian analysis, CVA, monitoring, assurance and learning mechanisms, thereby ensuring the continuous improvement for those we serve.
In addition, the IFRC and TRC worked together to tackle harmful stereotypes about refugees through public communication across the EU and globally, through campaigns like #PowertoBe, #PowertoShare and the refugee-owned and generated Storytelling Project.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on more than twelve years since the Syrian crisis began, we acknowledge that we are at a critical turning point. Many who sought safety in Türkiye have spent more than a decade alongside their Turkish brothers, sisters, and neighbors. Yet many of those neighbors now find themselves displaced, having lost everything—a heartbreaking and prescient reminder of our common humanity.
Both the protracted nature of the Syrian refugee crisis and the ongoing recovery from the February 2023 earthquakes require us to fully integrate our humanitarian assistance with longer-term programming efforts. Together, the IFRC and TRC are working tirelessly to create self-sufficiency for the people we support, referring individuals to income-generating and livelihood programs, improving job creation, and facilitating job placements that can ultimately allow people to support themselves and their families in the long run.
As the world turns its attention to disasters elsewhere, we cannot forget about the significant humanitarian needs that remain in Türkiye, both for refugees facing yet another year of exile and earthquake-affected households still grappling with the devastating loss of loved ones, homes, and businesses.
Our work is not done and the IFRC will stand alongside TRC for the months and years ahead to continue our efforts toward alleviating the suffering of the people we serve and to be a beacon of hope for communities as we rebuild and recover together.
1 https://www.ifrc.org/happening-now/emergency-appeals/disaster-responseemergency-fund-dref
2 https://www.ifrc.org/emergency/turkiye-earthquakes
3 https://go.ifrc.org/emergencies/6345/additional-info/assessments
4 https://cash-hub.org/resources/cash-in-turkiye/
5 https://platform.kizilaykart.org/en/Doc/rapor/pdm_17.pdf
6 https://www.ifrc.org/our-work/disasters-climate-and-crises/cash-and-voucherassistance/ESSN-storytelling-project