2021 – Page 2 – Türkiye Humanitarian Action Overview

Disasters, Migration and Public Health

Özge Yavuz Sarı

Dr., Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health, Disaster Medicine Implementation and Research Center

Kerim Hakan Altıntaş

Prof. Dr., Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health, Disaster Medicine Implementation and Research Center

Disasters and Public Health Disasters caused by a natural phenomenon or human activity have been increasing across the world every passing year. According to the World Disasters Report, the most substantial increase has been observed in climate and weather-related disasters (floods, extreme weather events, storms, etc.), followed by geophysical and biological disasters.1 The same goes…

Our Environment and Health as 2021 Comes to an End

Cavit Işık Yavuz

Associate Professor, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health, Disaster Medicine Implementation and Research Center

Environmental issues became the main agenda of all aspects of life. We need more solidarity, relief, and protection, and we continue to need them at this time period we live in where multiple disasters, crises, and social issues are increasing. Old issues intensify, and new and complex issues emerge in this century- of which we…

COVID-19 and Potential Infectious Disease Risks in Türkiye in 2021

Levent Akın

Prof., Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health, Disaster Medicine Implementation and Research Center

With the adoption of a settled life, irrigation systems were developed, and people started living together as a society. Large-scale outbreaks emerged after society became agriculture-dependent, and people were affected by animal-borne diseases after coming into close contact with animals. Moreover, there were other reasons why outbreaks occurred, such as difficulties accessing healthy water, increasing…

We are at a Crossroad in the Face of Increasing Global Crises

Serkan Kayalar

President, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA)

It would not be wrong to say that humanity entered the new century quite uneasy after witnessing tragic wars in the twentieth century. At the beginning of the millennium, many concepts such as global governance, the ideal of international society, and global sustainable development were put forward with great hopes for the sake of solving…

The Activities of UN Türkiye in 2021

Alvaro Rodriguez

(on behalf of the UN Türkiye Team) UN Türkiye Resident Coordinator

Since 2014, Türkiye has hosted the largest population of persons under temporary and international protection in the world. In 2021, the number of Syrians under temporary protection passed 3.7 million, while Türkiye also hosts approximately 320,000 international protection applicants and status holders from other countries, principally Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. The Regional Refugee and Resilience…

UNHCR Türkiye Activities in 2021

Philippe Leclerc

UNHCR Türkiye Representative

Oppression, conflicts, violence, human rights violations and disorderly conducts for nine consecutive years have led to an increase in the number of forcibly displaced persons. According to the UNHCR’s Mid-Year Trends Report1 published in November, while a great number of people fled their homes due to violence, insecure situations and the effects of climate change,…

2021 for the IFRC

Ruben Cano

Head of Delegation, IFRC Türkiye

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, reaching 150 million people in 192 National Societies through the work of 13.7 million volunteers worldwide. Together we act before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. …

Migration Activities in Türkiye in 2021

Gerard Karl Waite

IOM Türkiye, Chief of Mission

As a member of the humanitarian aid community in Türkiye, the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Red Crescent to improve the cooperation in humanitarian aid. We are proud of the cooperation between IOM and the Turkish Red Crescent, and consider this an indicator of the…

Migration, Refugees, the Pandemic and Climate Crisis

Hakan Bilgin

President, Doctors of the World Türkiye

The Syrian Crisis, which began in 2011, is still a stain on our collective conscience. Although many years have passed, the crisis is now moving towards a point where it becomes deeper, unpredictable and unfavorable let alone improving. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic, which first broke out in China and then spread worldwide,…

From Local to International Humanitarian Aid

Ahmet Emin Dağ

Dr., IHH Executive Board Member

Forest fires in the Mediterranean Region and floods in Western Karadeniz Caused severe human suffering on a national scale in 2021. The successful management of disasters by public institutions and civil society playing an active part in these activities made us hopeful in terms of the role of NGOs and especially aid organizations. In this…