The President of the Turkish Red Crescent, Fatma Yılmaz, has announced the launch of new initiatives to support those affected by the war in Syria, particularly women and marginalized groups.
Speaking to the media, Yılmaz stated that the organization, in collaboration with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, is initiating projects focused on assisting women, marginalized individuals, providing psychological support, and conducting minor repairs to homes.
“This is just the beginning,” Yılmaz emphasized, highlighting the need for long-term strategies to adapt to daily and weekly changes to diversify services.
Since the onset of the Syrian crisis, the Turkish Red Crescent has played a pivotal role in providing assistance.
Working closely with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the organization has expanded its operations to regions such as Aleppo, Manbij, and Tell Rifaat, while continuing its ongoing relief efforts in Afrin, Azaz, Jarabulus, and Idlib.
These expansions became feasible following the decline of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Through its Border Assistance Program, the Turkish Red Crescent has supported Syrian returnees with meals, food supplies, and beverages.
By December, the organization had distributed over 15,000 food parcels, 584,000 food items, and 10.6 million kilograms (23.37 million pounds) of flour, benefiting more than 566,000 people.
Winter relief has reached 386,816 individuals, while clean water and sanitation kits were provided to 127,152 people. Additionally, diapers and other essential supplies for children were delivered to 52,770 individuals.
Yılmaz acknowledged the immense challenge of rebuilding Syria and emphasized that no single country can shoulder this responsibility alone.
She remarked, “Syrians will have to rebuild their homes and lives from scratch, but they need support.”
Countries like Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have pledged financial aid, while Turkiye will utilize its operational expertise to turn these promises into tangible actions.
