Together We Stand

[ 19 ] In the specific case of the Turkish humanitarian response to the conflict in Syria, in line with its humanitarian respon- sibilities and its humanitarian diplomacy, Turkey has developed a multi-fold strategy from the very beginning of the humanitarian crisis, to help the Syrians fleeing their country, in the absence of a concerted international effort to this end. Confronted with an ever-increasing influx of people in their millions fleeing from the conflict in Syria, Turkey has built temporary protection centres (TPCs) in areas close to the Syrian border. Currently, 26 TPCs offer housing and protection to several hundred thousand Syrians. The AFAD- developed Tent City and Container City Establishment and Management Standards ensure that these TPCs are held to the highest standards. Each TPC is equipped with health, infor- mation, education, social and shelter services. The humanitarian response to the Syrians in Turkey covers, among other things, free health services and school- ing as well as vocational training, including to those in need outside the TPCs. In this framework, special programmes directed at assisting women, girls and children have also been initiated with the direct support of both local and governmental structures, in coordination with the relevant United Nations agencies. Furthermore, necessary legal arrangements have been put in place for creating job oppor- tunities for Syrians in Turkey. In order to help the Syrian internally displaced persons in Syria, the ‘zero-point assistance’ operations were developed in conformity with Turkey’s international obligations and in support of the United Nations campaign. The first zero- point delivery was conducted in August 2012. Through this innovative approach, with the coordination of AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent facilitates the shipment of humanitarian assistance material provided by national authorities and inter- national NGOs for affected people inside Syria. Moreover, with the adoption of United Nations Security Council reso- lutions 2139, 2165 and 2191, United Nations cross-border operations have been put into force which complement and reinforce Turkey’s zero-point deliveries as well. In the face of the rapidly growing financial burden due to the overwhelming number of Syrians fleeing across the border into Turkey, the Turkish authorities made an appeal to the international community for fair burden-sharing, both financially and in terms of accepting more Syrians within the resettlement programmes, as early as 2012. However, to date the total contribution from international donors through the United Nations agencies and bilaterally or via international NGOs remains incremental compared to the total cost borne by Turkey. To prevent such deficits of solidarity on the part of the international community on burden-sharing with respect to Syrian-like humanitarian crises, financing mechanisms avail- able to the global humanitarian system should be redesigned with new resources, ensuring more flexibility and sustainabil- ity. These should give priority to front-line countries. As regards humanitarian assistance policies directed to countries of origin stricken by humanitarian crises in conflict, Turkey’s approach is to implement the joint use of humani- tarian and development assistance programmes to the extent possible depending on the conditions in the field. Turkey’s policy to assist Somalia is a vivid example in this regard. The country was struck by a serious famine in 2011. In a rela- tively short span of time, several projects were put into action which consisted of human and institutional capacity-building, construction of essential infrastructure, and providing services such as education, sanitation and health, while humanitarian assistance consisting of food and medicine continued. During his speech at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Turkey’s Prime Minister expressed our wish for the World Humanitarian Summit and beyond: “We may be a member of different groups such as G7, G20, G77 etc. But this time let us come together and act as G-all so that no kids like Aylan Kurdi face such tragedies again.” T ogether W e S tand Turkey’s policy to assist Somalia exemplifies its joint use of humanitarian and development assistance programmes Turkey provides humanitarian aid consisting of food and medicine alongside projects such as capacity-building, construction of essential infrastructure and vital services Image: Min of Foreign Affairs, Turkey Image: Min of Foreign Affairs, Turkey