Established in 2006, the Istanbul Project Coordination Unit (known in Turkish by the acronym IPKB) has, as part of the ongoing Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project (ISMEP), reinforced or reconstructed schools, hospitals, and other public buildings constructed in or before 1999. IPKB has also launched several initiatives to raise public awareness of…
The Scouts have been active in Türkiye since 1910, providing children and adolescents with a uniform education that seeks, above all else, to instill a love for one’s nation and to cultivate morally upright, civic-minded individuals. Scouts around the world take an oath as part of their formal initiation ceremony, meaning that they are both…
Natural disasters like earthquakes can have a profound impact on both the physical infrastructure and the mental well-being of individuals and communities. In the aftermath of such events, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) initiatives are essential in helping individuals cope with trauma, anxiety, and loss. Earthquakes can trigger a range of mental health challenges,…
Reflecting on 2023, we see a year marked by challenges, yet defined by national solidarity and a determination to prevail. While we entered the year with high hopes and wishes of wellbeing, the earthquakes on 6 February that devastated eleven provinces in southeastern Türkiye and several others in northwestern Syria tested the strength of our…
Global crises, natural disasters, and human-induced catastrophes following one after another, making 2023 a trying year for everyone. The Türkiye–Syria earthquakes, the Libya floods, and Israel’s ongoing war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip shook the entire world to its core. Centered in Kahramanmaraş and wreaking havoc across eleven provinces in Türkiye, the Türkiye–Syria earthquakes…
A devastating disaster marked the beginning of 2023 for Türkiye when, on 6 February, two powerful earthquakes struck the southeastern province of Kahramanmaraş, with magnitudes of Mw 7.7 and 7.6, centered in the towns of Pazarcık and Elbistan, respectively. These quakes, followed by thousands of aftershocks, ravaged an area of 100,000 square kilometers (38,610 square…
The Green Crescent has, since its founding more than a century ago, dedicated itself to help people overcome their addictions. Whereas the core nature of addiction has remained unchanged, the ways in which it manifests itself has evolved over the years. We have all witnessed a rise both in the number of people struggling with…
Habitat Association has, since its founding thirty years ago, worked to promote sustainable development, enhance social capacity, and support impactful projects through robust partnerships with other organizations, including NGOs like itself, in today’s digital age. Together with our more than seven thousand volunteers, our association has served roughly five million people across all of Türkiye’s…
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has played an active role in Türkiye well before the establishment of the agency’s office in the country. Specialists from Türkiye were invited to Japan in 1959 to participate in disaster risk reduction (DRR) workshops. Since then, JICA has been instrumental in building disaster-resilient communities in Türkiye through a…
As a whole, 2023 saw a sharp escalation in humanitarian crises—not only in sheer number but also in severity. Türkiye experienced one of the most devastating catastrophes when, on 6 February, two powerful earthquakes struck the southeastern province of Kahramanmaraş. Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, war, and armed conflict have displaced millions of people…
