Coordination Meeting on Turkey – Yemen NGO Relations

More than 200 civil society representatives attended the coordination meeting for humanitarian relief activities targeting Yemen, organized jointly by the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW)—encompassing 312 member NGOs across 63 countries—and the International Relief and Development Association.

During the conference, diverse topics including the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, relief logistics, development projects, and student support programs were thoroughly deliberated.

During the meeting, it was decided to dispatch a humanitarian relief ship carrying food supplies, medical equipment, and winter clothing to Yemen as quickly as possible.

Addressing the conference, Dr. Hamid Ziyad, President of the International Relief and Development Association, stated: "As non-governmental organizations, our duty is to support our brothers and sisters in need across the entire world." Expressing gratitude to NGOs and the Turkish Government for past relief activities and steadfast support to Yemen, Ziyad also briefed participants regarding the humanitarian relief ship dispatched to Yemen in early 2016.

Ziyad called upon all organizations operating in this domain—primarily UN agencies—to extend a helping hand in a fair, merciful, and impartial manner without discrimination.

UNIW Secretary General Atty. Ali Kurt noted that the Islamic world is paying a heavy price with its blood, stating that the sole pathway for the Ummah—scattered like broken prayer beads—to return to its historic justice and prosperity is by acting in complete unity and togetherness. Recording that as Muslims we must engage in proactive endeavors to achieve results before crises emerge rather than relying on reactive approaches to problems, Kurt emphasized the vital importance of coordination, particularly during joint operations. Highlighting that Turkey ranks second globally in total humanitarian aid expenditure and first relative to Gross National Product (GNP), the Secretary General stressed that the Turkish Nation has always stood by the oppressed.

Delivering an address at the meeting, Aziz Şahin, President of the Turkish-German Businessmen Association, noted that they had previously dispatched humanitarian relief to Yemen. Pointing out that rising Islamophobia in Europe restricts Muslims' operational space, Şahin mentioned that they are working to address this challenge by conducting activities to explain that Islam is a faith of peace, solidarity, and tranquility.

Subsequently taking the floor, Dr. Abdulaziz Subaie, President of the Brussels-based World Child Protection Association, highlighted that children are the most severely affected segment in war zones. Pointing out the necessity of establishing a humanitarian aid coordination center and introducing operational standardization, Subaie emphasized that only through such measures can the right assistance be delivered to the right destination in the most effective manner.

Following these addresses, representatives of other participating NGOs took the floor to share their views and recommendations.