We welcome each new year with hopeful aspirations, wishing for a world in less need of humanitarian aid. While the start of 2023 was no exception, that hope did not translate into reality. On the contrary, the year was marked by numerous crises around the world, including the Türkiye–Syria earthquakes—known domestically as the Disaster of the Century—that rocked our nation. As humanitarian needs soared beyond unprecedented levels, we at the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) found ourselves working around the clock to fulfill these needs to the best of our abilities. However, the scale of these crises was beyond what any single organization could handle alone. Even with the generous support or our donors and partners, it became clear that an effective response could only be mounted in collaboration with other organizations—a lesson that became only more evident as 2023 progressed.
We face several stark realities as we head into 2024: Humanitarian crises are on the rise globally, yet donations and funding are on the decline. The norms that protect people and the institutions meant to uphold these norms are losing their effectiveness. Let us hope, for the sake of humanity, that our fears are unfounded.
Certain dates hold a special place in our national psyche, some of which evoke intense feelings of sorrow, such as 6 February 2023. It was on this fateful day that an unparalleled amount of destruction and loss of life was wrought upon eleven provinces in southeastern Türkiye. In response to what would be the largest humanitarian crisis of 2023 in the country, civil society and government agencies—particularly the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD)—launched a nationwide effort to help mitigate the still-unfolding impact of the disaster. TRC played a leading role in this monumental effort from the very offset. Words cannot capture the amount of work involved in organizing a response of this magnitude. The disaster also sparked a global outpouring of kindness, empathy, and determination to assist those people in need. Over one hundred national societies affiliated with IFRC joined forces with us to deliver aid to the victims. Seeing how TRC’s effective response models and reliable systems made a difference in this global effort was truly remarkable. Another moving moment was seeing aid materials arriving from abroad packed in TRC boxes that we had previously sent ourselves. This act of solidarity deeply touched everyone involved, including myself as both a humanitarian worker and a supporter of TRC.
We organized an international support event to address the humanitarian needs of the region. Hosted by the Dutch Embassy in collaboration with the IFRC, the event brought together ambassadors from around the world to garner support for our ongoing efforts. The event was personally attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director for EU Affairs, Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay, both of whom reinforced the Turkish government’s strong support for it. The presence and moral support offered by ambassadors of countries involved in humanitarian work in Türkiye, along with other high-level international representatives at the event, rekindled our hope for overcoming future challenges.
Nations across the world faced humanitarian crises triggered by a range of factors over the course of the year. The disasters in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Morocco, and Libya—both natural and human-induced—topped TRC’s international priorities. The aid we provided to these countries allowed them to meet their most urgent needs, thereby preventing people from falling into complete despair. While reflecting on our humanitarian efforts in 2023, it is important that we remember that TRC has a deep-rooted history of working in these parts of the world. For instance, a field hospital constructed in 1912 by the Ottoman Red Crescent in the eastern Libyan city of Derna treated then-Major Mustafa Kemal, who would go on to found the Republic of Türkiye, after sustaining injuries in nearby Tripoli. A century after this historic event, TRC volunteers were once again called to Derna—only this time to assist flood victims. Our humanitarian efforts extended well beyond these countries. Through our robust partnerships with international humanitarian organizations, we delivered aid to over eight million people across thirty-five countries throughout 2023.
The ongoing tragedy in Palestine’s Gaza Strip has shown just how impotent the world is in taking meaningful action to protect a battered and beleaguered population forced by a brutal occupying nation into a small corner of what amounts to an open-air prison. What is transpiring—streamed to the world in 4k—is a blatant violation of humanitarian law, a disregard for the norms established to protect human life, and a clear demonstration of the utter failure of the institutions expressly established to uphold these norms. How can humanity remain so indifferent to the deaths of tens of thousands of starved, dehydrated, and displaced civilians when the death of just one person in a different context causes such uproar in the international media? How can we stand idly without reaching out to lend a helping hand the more than two million people displaced from their homes? We couldn’t, and we didn’t! Recognizing the gravity of the situation, we mobilized all of our resources for Palestine and the Gaza Strip. We have been on the ground long before 7 October—the day when Israel upped its barbaric bombardment and blockade over the Gaza Strip—to help the embattled yet ever-resilient people of Palestine and, with strong public support and in coordination with government agencies and civil society organizations, will continue to support them until they are accorded their rights and dignity as fellow human beings. We have delivered aid and worked hand-in-hand with the Palestinian Red Crescent to meet communities’ essential needs. Nevertheless, we are aware that our humanitarian work must be backed up by strong advocacy. As such, the President of TRC, Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, appealed to the embassies of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, not only reminding them of their historic responsibility to uphold humanitarian law, the rule of law, and human dignity but also urging them to open a humanitarian corridor in the Gaza Strip. This plea marks a key moment in the history of humanitarian advocacy. As long as the crisis in the Gaza Strip continues and as long as there are needs to be met, TRC will remain steadfast in its commitment to the Palestinian people.
The year 2023 has placed immense humanitarian responsibilities on us and has set the stage for even greater challenges in 2024. This is why working closely with stakeholders is essential; it allows for greater access to vulnerable people. The sharp decline in global resources for humanitarian aid contrasting with ever-rising needs highlights the importance of using these resources as efficiently as possible. By remaining true to our mission, we at TRC reaffirm our crucial role in the provision of humanitarian relief so that we may continue to be a source of hope for people in need everywhere.