The
role and significance of NGOs and civil society in world politics has increased
significantly after the Cold War. NGOs play critical roles in a wide range of
fields, such as education, healthcare, human rights, and humanitarian relief.
They fill a big gap where the state fails to provide the basic services to its
citizens and they provide humanitarian assistance in the regions affected by
war, conflict, poverty, earthquake, human right abuses and diseases. Even
though NGOs and civil society organizations have been influential actor in
resolving humanitarian problems, they have very complex structure due to their
activities in vast fields.
From
the establishment of Turkey to 1950, the concept of civil society had a passive
meaning and had a restricted role over the society due to the dominant role of
the single party system in the country. The single party in Turkey especially focused
on the establishment and enforcement of the nation-state. Therefore, the
concept of nation-state mainly dominated civil society organizations. Until
1950, civil society organizations in Turkey could not play constructive role in
developing Turkish society. During the period of the single party system,
freedom of religion, media and human rights had been constrained. While the
minority group included the military elites and the Kemalists gained economic
and political power in the country, the majority of the population faced deep
economic, social and political problems. Inequalities and human right abuses
have especially paralyzed the development of the notion of civil society in the
early years of the Republic.
In 1950, Turkey first met the multiparty system. With the changing political structure in Turkey in 1950, the conception of civil society became very important in developing social, economic and political structure of the country. However, the military bureaucracy and the impact of the single party system damaged emerging the concept of a strong civil society in Turkey between 1950 and 1960. It should be underlined that there have been two important obstacles in evolving and developing civil society in Turkey. The first is the military elite, and the second is the ideology of the Kemalist party. The development of the concept of civil society has depended on the level of freedom in Turkey.
In 1950, Turkey first met the multiparty system. With the changing political structure in Turkey in 1950, the conception of civil society became very important in developing social, economic and political structure of the country. However, the military bureaucracy and the impact of the single party system damaged emerging the concept of a strong civil society in Turkey between 1950 and 1960. It should be underlined that there have been two important obstacles in evolving and developing civil society in Turkey. The first is the military elite, and the second is the ideology of the Kemalist party. The development of the concept of civil society has depended on the level of freedom in Turkey.
The
period of Turgut Ozal (1983-1993) has been very important in strengthening the
concept of civil society. Ozal paid attention to increasing the role of Turkish
civil society organizations in resolving social, economic, and political
problems in the country. He particularly attempted to implement liberal
policies, reduce the role of military elite in politics but the military elite
in Turkey had been very powerful in shaping domestic and external politics of
the country. Turkish civil society organizations were developed in a limited
way in his period. After the period of Turgut Ozal, weak coalition governments,
the impact of military elite and the party of Kemalist have continued to
undermine developing Turkish civil society organizations. The research shows
that Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations have increased their
activities when there is more freedom and political and economic stability in
the country. After 2002, Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations have more actively involved in providing humanitarian activities in the region hit by war, conflict, poverty, earthquake, and diseases. The main motivations behind the changing role of Turkish NGOs and civil society abroad can be summarized as follows:
1. The changing political structure: Weak coalition governments in Turkey have undermined social, economic, and political development. After 2002, the Justice and Development Party paved the way for increasing the global role of Turkish NGOs and civil society. Political stability creates economic stability. With the ruling party, political stability has been established since 2002. The ruling party has created a dynamic structure for Turkish NGOs to play more active role in the country and abroad.
2. The changing economic dynamics: In the last decade, Turkish economic structure has changed significantly. It has developed its economic relations with different countries. For instance, while Turkey's total trade with Africa was 2 billion dollars, it reached 22 billion dollars in 2012. Political stability in Turkey stimulates economic cooperation with different countries. Importantly, the national income of Turkey was changed considerably over the last decade. While it was 230 billion dollars in 2002, it reached to 799 billion dollars in 2013. Turkish people have increased their financial support to Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations' humanitarian activities abroad according to their increasing economic power.
3. Social dynamics: 99 percent of the population in Turkey is Muslims. In the religion of Islam, solidarity and help for needy people are essential. These elements of Islam construct the essence of the society. The Islam identity of Turkish people has particularly affected peoples' decisions towards Turkish NGOs' humanitarian activities in Africa.
4. Developing a global perception: Turkey has begun to take more global responsibilities in resolving global problems and increasing its role at international organizations. For example, Turkey first became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2009-2010. The growing role of Turkey in world politics encourages Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations to take more global responsibilities in Africa and in other regions.
The Role and Activities of The Foundation for Human
Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief in Africa (IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation)
The
IHH was officially established as a non-governmental organization in Istanbul,
Turkey in 1995. In particular, the outbreak of the wars in Bosnia and
Herzegovina in May 1992 and Chechnya in December 1994 played a significant role
in the establishment of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. With the
independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1 March 1992, the Serbs began to
commit a big genocide against the Bosnian Muslims in May 1994. The
international community and even the Islamic world failed to prevent this
genocide in the country. The Bosnian war was known as the largest genocide and
the most destructive war happened after the Second World War. During the war,
more than 100.000 civilians were killed and two million people had to leave
their homes and country as a result of the genocide and became refugees in the
country that had totally four million populations in 1994.
A group of voluntary and altruistic people
from Turkey started to collect humanitarian aid individually and sent them to
the victims of the Bosnian war as well the Chechen War so as to mitigate
sufferings in these regions. Those people who organized humanitarian assistance
programs for the people affected by the Bosnian and Chechen Wars realized that
it was necessary to establish a humanitarian relief foundation to help the
victims of the wars more effectively and deliver humanitarian assistance more
quickly.[1]
As a result of this action of those voluntary people, the IHH was created in
1995. Today, the Foundation operates in 120 countries and deliver humanitarian
help to the regions hit by war, conflicts, earthquake and hunger. It is the
largest and the leading Turkish NGO in terms of providing humanitarian relief
internationally. Importantly, the IHH not only works globally but also works
nationally.
The
aims and goals of the IHH have expanded over the years. The foundation has a
wide range of activities around the globe. Its activities are classified as
follow: (a) Emergency aid activities: The foundation is aiming to provide
health services, medical equipment aid, and deliveries of food, clothing, and
tents (b) Social aid activities: The organization is aiming to organize food
aid programs, orphan care programs, shelter and clothing aid programs,
vocational training program and drill water wells and canals, (c) Educational
aid activities: It includes educational facilities and infrastructure aid,
educational materials aid, and vocational training aid, (d) Cultural aid
activities: This comprises supporting radio and television broadcasting and
building mosques and shrines, (e) Sanitary aid activities: This consists of
health facilities and infrastructure aid, and health services aid, (f) Projects
to increase awareness: The IHH organizes international conferences, panels,
symposiums in order to increase awareness of social responsibility so as to
prevent the violations of human rights.
The
IHH has worked closely with the international community and has held membership
with various international organizations. For example, it has had a Special
Consultative Status in the UN Economic and Social Council since 2004 and the
memberships of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)'s Humanitarian
Forum, the Council of International Organizations for Relief in Iraq, and the
Turkish Foundation for Volunteer Organizations (TGTV). The most important
character of the foundation is that it provides its humanitarian assistance to
everyone affected by human rights abuses, poverty, conflicts, war and
earthquake regardless of religion, race, region, sect and nations. At the same
time, the foundation works independently despite its connections with the
different political parties in Turkey. Meanwhile, the IHH has also got
different local and international awards, such as by the Turkish Parliament in
2007, the Pakistani, Somalian, and Iraqi General Directorates of Foundations in
2006. Also, it was chosen as a "foundation that uses its resources in the
most efficient way" by Turkish
General Directorate of Foundations in 2005.[2]
The
IHH has been very influential Turkish NGO in the world politics. For instance,
it organized the "Gaza Freedom Movement" on 30 May 2010 to break the
Israeli blockade over Gaza and provide humanitarian relief to the Palestinian.
On 31 May 2010, Israeli soldiers attacked the ships and the civilians on the
international water and killed 9 civilian people on the ships. The people from
37 different countries participated in the Gaza Freedom Movement. Turkey froze
its political relations with Israel as a result of the Israeli soldiers'
attacks on the ships. On 22 March 2013, Israel made an official apology and accepted
to pay a compensation to the victims of the attacks. The international
community strongly criticized the Israel's unmoral and aggressive behavior
towards this civilian initiative. Israel softened its blockade over Gaza after
the strong condemnations of the international community over the Israel's
apartheid policy in Gaza and in Palestine.
The
IHH operates in 42 African countries and has a wide range of humanitarian
relief programs. The IHH launched a water well project in 2002 to provide clean
water in Africa. People in many African countries still lack access to clean
water; therefore they use unhealthy drinking water. Due to shortage of water
and fatal droughts in Africa, thousands of people die every year. In
particular, droughts have been seen at the highest level in Africa in the
world. The IHH has so far opened more than 1000 water wells in different
African countries such as 1146 in Somalia,[3]
27 in Cameroon, 24 in Kenya, 5 in Ethiopia. It can be said that opening water
wells in Africa have been one of the most significant humanitarian assistance
programs of the foundation in Africa. The foundation is also planning to open
475 more water wells in Africa.[4]
The number of water wells in Africa is increasing every day opened by the IHH. The IHH not only carries out
short-term projects but also implements long-term projects in Africa. For
instance, it has opened agricultural schools so as to develop agriculture,
alleviate poverty and hunger and mitigate the effects of drought in Africa.
The
IHH established an agricultural school in Somalia[5]
in 2013 in cooperation with Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency (TIKA)
and in Gambia[6] in 2012
to train the African people in the field of agriculture. The
foundation has also conducted important health projects since it was
established. One of the most important health care projects of the foundation
is Africa Cataract Project. The aim of the project is to offer free eye care
and to prevent blindness in Africa. 1.2 percent of African population of one
billion has cataract diseases. In other words, there are ten million people who
are cataract patients cross the continent. This number increases every year as
a result of malnourishment, poverty and drought. Thousands of people lose their
life every year due to the lack of proper health care in Africa.[7]
The IHH aims to provide 100.000 free cataract surgery operations in ten African
countries, including Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Togo, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso,
Ghana, Malawi, and Benin. Especially, cataract diseases are very common in the
mentioned countries.
Table 1: Distribution among the Countries[8]
Country
|
Field
Research
|
Medical Examination
|
Surgery
|
Togo
|
15.000
|
5.000
|
300
|
Benin
|
12.900
|
4.300
|
390
|
Ghana
|
6.900
|
2.300
|
281
|
Chad
|
1.740
|
580
|
150
|
Uganda
|
3.700
|
2.500
|
500
|
Tanzania
|
3.150
|
2.500
|
500
|
Sierra
Leone
|
25.890
|
10.290
|
2.000
|
Niger
|
6.630
|
2.210
|
525
|
Sudan
|
358.000
|
133.054
|
35.040
|
Ethiopia
|
142.000
|
86.761
|
21.935
|
Somalia
|
114.262
|
41.509
|
11.300
|
Total
|
690.172
|
291.004
|
73.073
|
According
to the table 2, 73.073 people began to see again after cataract surgery
operations with the financial and logistical support of the IHH. In particular,
the project of Cataract surgery was started by the foundation in 2007. Sudan is
the most important country in this project due to the existence of a large
number of blind people in the country. 35.040 cataract patients have had
surgery so far in Sudan. Ethiopia and Somalia are also among the countries that
more than 30.000 cataract patients had surgeries. In addition, the IHH made a
comprehensive medical research on
690.172 people to understand their health problems and 291.004 African people
got medical examination with the support of the foundation. The IHH has also
carried out various programs regarding orphans in Africa, such as building
schools, providing financial support, and scholarship. It opened the largest
orphanage in Somalia in 2013 named as Anatolia Educational Center. There are
thousands of orphans in the country due to the fact that ongoing conflict and
war has created many problems in the country including the emergence of
orphans.
The
education center consists of school and administrative buildings, a Quran
course, sport halls, a mosque, a health center, and a dining hall. 400 students
stay in the dormitories in the center while 15,00 students study.[9]
The IHH has signed an agreement with the Islamic Development Bank and the
Government of Niger in 2013 regarding the cataract project in Africa. According
to the agreement, IHH will provide free eye care to cataract patients in Niger.
Approximately 6000 cataract patients in the country are expected to benefit
from this project every year.[10]
The foundation has carried out relief activities during the Festivals of
Ramadan and Sacrifices in Africa. In these festivals, the foundation provides
food and clothing aids to the poor. Thousands of needy people have got
humanitarian assistance from the IHH during these festivals of the Muslims.
IHH
has also launched campaigns against drought in East Africa. More than 12
million people in East Africa has suffered due to deep drought. Every year,
thousands of people dies of starvation in the region. The IHH donated
€22,773,779 for the poor people in East Africa, including in Kenya, Somalia,
and Ethiopia. The humanitarian relief activities in East Africa comprised of
delivery of water generators, delivery of tractors, meat distribution, food
delivery, iftar meals distribution, medical examination, and setting up
educational centers. Meanwhile, the foundation donated €7,752,969 to the
orphans in the region in 2011. 2.640 orphans in Somalia, 1010 in Ethiopia, and
50 in Djibouti received humanitarian assistance from the IHH in 2011.[11]
An Overview of Activities of
Other Turkish NGOs in Africa
There
are a number of important Turkish NGOs providing humanitarian reliefs in
Africa. Cansuyu Solidarity and Charity Association, Aziz Mahmud Hudayi
Foundation, Association of Is Anybody There? Deniz Feneri Association and
Doctors Worldwide are among them. These Turkish NGOs have a wide range of
humanitarian relief programs in Africa, such as drilling water wells, providing
health services, orphan care programs, and education programs. Aziz Mahmud
Hudayi Foundation has opened more than 100 water wells in different countries
in Africa such as Tanzania, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. It has a training
college for teachers where 73 students study and youth centers in Tanzania. The
foundation provides free education for the college students and supports
financially orphans and distributes food and clothing to the poor during the
festivals of Ramadan and Sacrifices.[12]
The foundation also has secondary and high schools in Cameroon[13]
and Burkina Faso.[14]
It
has launched a construction of a big and comprehensive education complex in the
center of Ghana which includes a faculty, a high school, a primary school, student
dormitories, health center, mosque, and administrative building for religious
affairs of Ghana. The foundation carries out this project in cooperation with
different partners in Turkey, including the Turkish Government, Presidency of
Religious Affairs of Turkey, and Metropolitan Municipality of Samsun. 10.000
people will pray at the same time in the mosque and it will be the largest
mosque in the country. 1000 students will be able to study at the education
center at the Accra Furqan Complex. The complex is planned to be finished in
2014.[15]
The Aziz Mahmud Hudayi Foundation was established in Istanbul in 1985.[16]
The foundation has particularly increased its humanitarian and education
activities in Africa since 2005.
Cansuyu Association has opened 20 water wells
in Chad and Cameroon and provided food and clothing aid to needy people during
the Festivals of Ramadan and Sacrifices. The Association is preparing to open
more water wells in the countries where drought is very common.[17]
Cansuyu Association was established in Ankara in 2005 and it operates in Turkey
and abroad. The Association works in 62 foreign countries to provide
humanitarian relief.[18]
Association of Is Anybody There? was created in Istanbul in 2004 and works in
100 foreign countries.
Conclusion
Turkish
NGOs and civil society organizations' humanitarian relief activities in Africa
play a critical role in enhancing soft power of Turkey at the international
level. There was fear before that if the Turkish Governments cooperated with
Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations having different identities, it
would create damage the Kemalist ideology but such meaningless and visionary
fear was gone with the ruling party. Since 2002, Turkey has strengthened its
relations with different Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations
regardless of their identities and values encouraged them to take more
responsibilities in the different regions hit by poverty, diseases, war,
conflict and earthquake.
The
policy of Turkish NGOs in Africa which is providing humanitarian relief
assistance to everyone regardless of religion, race, nation, and segments has
strengthened the role of Turkish NGOs in Africa. African people have provided
their support to the Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations due to the
service to everyone without any discrimination and any conditions. Furthermore,
Turkish NGOs have developed a complementary policy which is aiming to make
comprehensive projects to reduce humanitarian problems. For instance, they do
not only focus on education problems in a conflict area but also healthcare,
agriculture, and human rights and liberties. Developing a comprehensive
humanitarian aid policy has made Turkish NGOs and civil society organizations
stronger, transparent, humanitarian and more effective in world politics
compared to other Western NGOs.
Endnotes:
[1] IHH (n.d). About Us. Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/en/main/pages/hakkimizda/114 (Accessed on 17 November
2013).
[2] IHH (n.d). Hakkımızda. Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/tr/main/pages/hakkimizda/114 (Accessed on 17 November
2013).
[3] IHH (n.d). IHH, Somali'de 636 Su Kuyusu Açacak.
Available from: http://sukuyusu.ihh.org.tr/tr/main/news/1/ihh-somalide-636-su-kuyusu-acacak/1129 (Accessed on 23 November
2013).
[4] IHH (n.d). IHH opened 2512 water wells in Asia, Africa.
Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/en/main/news/1/ihh-opened-2512-water-wells-in-asia-africa/1450 (Accessed on 19 November
2013).
[5] IHH (n.d). Meaningful Project from IHH for Africa.
Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/en/main/news/2/meaningful-project-from-ihh-for-africa/1586 (Accessed on 20 November
2013).
[6] IHH (n.d). Gambia "Agriculture School
Project" Finalized. Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/en/main/news/2/gambia-agriculture-school-project-finalized/1350 (Accessed on 20 November
2013).
[7] IHH (n.d). Statistical Data. Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/en/main/pages/rakamlar/216 (Accessed on 23 November
2013).
[8] IHH (n.d). Katarakt Ameliyatları (Rakamlar).
Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/tr/main/pages/katarak-ameliyatlari/289 (Accessed on 23 November
2013).
[9] IHH (n.d). IHH Opened Largest Orphanage in Somalia.
Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/en/main/news/2/ihh-opened-largest-orphanage-in-somalia/1723 (Accessed on 24 November 2013).
[10] IHH (n.d). Türkiye'den Nijer'de Dev Katarakt Projesi.
Available from: http://www.ihh.org.tr/tr/main/region/nijer/43/turkiyeden-nijerde-dev-katarakt-projesi/1940 (Accessed on 24 November
2013).
[11] IHH (2011). East Africa Drought Emergency Relief Works
Report. Fatih: IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, pp. 7-8.
[12] Rehema (n.d). Safina. Available from: http://www.refso.co.tz/safina.html (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[13] Haber7 (n.d). Bozdağ, Kamerun'da Okul Açılışına Katıldı.
Available from: http://www.haber7.com/afrika/haber/1093484-bozdag-kamerunda-okul-acilisina-katildi (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[14] Gencdergisi (n.d). Genç Gönüllüler Afrika'da. Available
from: http://gencdergisi.com/1136-genc-gonulluler-afrika-da-.html (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[15] Accrafurkan (n.d). Akra Furkan Camii ve Külliyesi.
Available from: http://www.accrafurqan.com/proje_detaylari (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[16] Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi
Vakfı (n.d). Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi
Vakfı-Vakıf Senedi. Available from:
http://www.hudayivakfi.org/kurumsal/vak%C4%B1f-senedi.html (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[17] Cansuyu (n.d). Afrika'nın İmdadına Cansuyu Yetişti.
Available from.: http://www.cansuyu.org.tr/h=23?afrika-nin-imdadina-cansuyu-yetisti (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[18] Cansuyu (n.d). Müslüman Topluluklar Birliği Kongresi.
Available from: http://www.cansuyu.org.tr/h=150?musluman-topluluklar-birligi-kongresi (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[19] Deniz Feneri Association
(n.d). Africa. Available from: http://www.denizfeneri.org.tr/icerik.aspx?kod=AFRICA (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[20] Deniz Feneri Association
(n.d). Deniz Feneri 23 Ülkede Yüzleri
Güldürdü. Available from: http://www.denizfeneri.org.tr/icerik.aspx?kod=deniz-feneri-23-ulkede-yuzleri-guldurdu (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
[21] Doctors Worldwide
(n.d). Afrika Hayat Operasyonu Hakkında.
Available from: https://www.yyd.org.tr/tr/projeler/yuruyen-projeler/afrika-hayat-operasyonu.html (Accessed on 25 November
2013).
