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 resilience. Mobilizing all its resources and manpower, the nation stood as one and proved to the world that we will surely endure as long as we remain united.
The pain and hardships we endured in 2023 will not soon be forgotten, nor will the acts of kindness and sacrifice that followed the earthquake. Inheritors of a rich legacy of compassion from our ancestors, we, the people of Türkiye, have always been committed to aiding the world’s oppressed and has, as a result, emerged as the global leader in humanitarian assistance. This unwavering commitment has rightfully earned Türkiye the respect and admiration of nations worldwide. When we faced our own devastating earthquake, support poured in from all corners of the globe. Our nation embodied the essence of the Hadith describing believers as interlocking bricks supporting one another by sending all that it could to their fellow compatriots reeling after the cataclysmic earthquakes (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 8, Hadith 128; Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 83).
Driven by our mission to spread goodness across the world, we at the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation have worked tirelessly to ease the suffering of oppressed people worldwide whilst simultaneously tending to the wounds of our citizens affected by major disasters. Guided by this principle, our Foundation has worked to convey the peace and serenity of Islam, as well as the compassion and noble character of Prophet Muhammad (sav), to every son and daughter of Adam in the world, touching the lives of almost sixty-three and a half million people in 2023 alone.
Entrusted by our nation to act compassionately to those in need wherever they may be, the Foundation played a major role in responding to the myriad needs of earthquake survivors. Our response encompassed humanitarian aid, search and rescue efforts, food distribution, shelter provision, burial services, and emotional support. We were on the ground immediately after the first earthquake struck Kahramanmaraş and our humanitarian work continues unabated to this day. As of the time of writing, we have dispatched 1,684 trucks and 439 vans of aid supplies and set up 3,678 temporary housing units. We have worked tireless to alleviate the suffering of eight million affected individuals since the earthquakes.
As Ramadan approached, the entire nation channeled its goodwill to the earthquake victims in the spirit of the blessed month. Our Foundation directed nearly all of the aid it received to those impacted by the earthquake, both in the disaster zone and in other cities where they had sought refuge. We delivered charitable donations made by people from throughout Türkiye to more than ten million people during Ramadan. Despite the severe hardships they faced, we worked hard to offer numerous families a taste of Ramadan’s peaceful atmosphere by providing them with tents and temporary shelters.
A few months after Ramadan, Eid al-Adha ushered in another wave of charitable giving. In fact, our Foundation experienced an unprecedented level of contributions—a palpable sign of the confidence the entire nation has in the work we do. Our Foundation distributed a total of 745,535 shares of meat from the animals it was commissioned to slaughter for Eid to more than thirty-four and a half million people in Türkiye and abroad, with those living in the earthquake disaster zone being prioritized. Beyond Eid, we provided nearly one million people with meat from animals donated as charity, including those slaughtered to celebrate a child’s birth, to express gratitude for blessings received, and to fulfill vows made.
Despite dealing with our own hardships, the people of Türkiye have remained steadfast in their commitment to assist our oppressed brothers and sisters worldwide. Through donations made by the average citizen, we have provided assistance to over three million people in countries affected by civil war and natural disasters, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and Rakhine. Since 2015, for instance, we have worked to provide clean water to those in need worldwide as part of our A Drop of Life initiative. Indeed, it is our Islamic faith that drives us to make a difference in the lives of people throughout the world, and especially in parts of the world, like much of Africa, where water scarcity is so severe that even basic sanitation remains a daily struggle. By drilling wells and building water fountains, we seek to honor the legacy of our ancestors and ensure people have access to clean drinking water. Funded by the generous donations of people across the country, our water projects benefited one and a half million people in 2023 alone and have, over the entire course of our efforts, provided clean water to more than ten million people around the world.
We have provided our Palestinian brothers and sisters enduring relentless attacks by the Israeli war machine with hot meals, food packages, fuel to power hospitals, hygiene kits, shelter supplies, medical equipment and consumables, medicine, and clothes. We deliver these supplies either by sourcing them from within Gaza, by shipping them from Türkiye, or by purchasing them from Egypt. We aim to increase the two million USD in aid we have thus far delivered.
Our Foundation is likewise dedicated to nurturing knowledge through various educational initiatives. To help cultivate future altruistic leaders, we provided scholarships and educational opportunities to 48,506 students in 2023. Our commitment to fostering education and spiritual growth is evident through our My Gift is the Qur’an initiative, which distributed 247,000 Qur’ans, and our My Gift is a Book project, which delivered 300,000 books to enthusiastic readers. We furthermore supported eager learners within Türkiye by donating books to school libraries and other institutions across the country.
Throughout the year, our Foundation has diligently worked address the needs of underprivileged people through its ongoing zakat assistance program. We similarly support orphans in Türkiye and around the world. In 2023, for instance, we provided care for 4,435 orphans through our He Remains an Orphan if You Neglect Him initiative. Our Department of Family and Youth Services, along with 1,003 centers nationwide, assisted over five million people. Committed to aiding anyone in need, regardless of racial, religious, linguistic, or ethnic background, our Foundation continues to bring hope and support both domestically and internationally, demonstrating our nation’s steadfast dedication to serving God’s creation, whoever and wherever they may be.