Kym News Volume 1 by Keşşaf Medya

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#1 May-August 2014

KYM AFRICA REPORT

Serving with novel methods each and everyday Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

Kym

NEWS CONTENTS

FOCUS KYM could not stay indifferent to the typhoon disaster

NEWS Food safety summit convenes in Thailand

COUNTRY ANALYSIS Pakistan, pure country 20

NEWS Town of Ikbaliye delivered to the Pakistanis INTERVIEW KYM is a friendship hand from Turkey to the world

PORTRAIT Benevolence to sufferers, retribution to exploiters

GUEST AUTHOR If wood turned into crocodile when dropped into water

FOCUS Syrian refugees

CULTURE & ART Deficient lives from the perspective of photographers

PHOTOREPORT Syrian refugees in Turkey

REPORT Serving with novel methods each and everyday

NEWS International disaster management exhibition and conference held in Istanbul

NEWS KYM establishes hospitals in Africa

NEWS KYM lends a hand to survivors and the families of the victims of the mine disaster in Soma

NEWS Call for help from the Balkans

GUESTBOOK

EDITORIAL

HERE WE ARE

ear friends and neighbors, Thank you for your interest in Kimse Yok Mu. 2014 is upon us and this year promises great change. As part of our expansion and growth, we are delighted to share our past two years in review with you. Kimse Yok Mu is a nonprofit based out of Istanbul, Turkey that has provided humanitarian assistance to people worldwide. Primarily we focus on our neighbors in Turkey and on the continent of Africa, but we provide aid to individuals regardless of race, religion, or creed. In this issue, you will learn of our many programs and disaster response. Kimse Yok Mu is proud to report that we were among the first organizations on the ground during Typhoon Hiyan in the Philippines; we are one of the most efficient NGOs providing medical care and education to war torn Somalia and Sudan. Primarily our aid facilities come in the form of new schools, safe living environments, and sustainable and critically needed medical care to our brothers in sisters caught in the midst of violent and ongoing civil wars and natural disasters. Kimse Yok Mu, translated into English as ‘Is Anybody There?’, began back in 2006 with a handful of dedicated volunteers who saw the sting of poverty on their fellow man and wanted to offer further assistance beyond what other aid organizations put forward. These

kind men partnered with, host governments other NGOs, and the UN where KYM now sits as a proud ECOSOC advisor, to expand services already in place. As of 2014, KYM hosts volunteers and service projects from its home state of Turkey to the Philippines to the Pakistan Our primary projects include the establishment of safe living environs in countries engaged in civil war, providing access to clean water in remote African villages, giving educational opportunities to orphaned children, and supplying immediate relief from natural and man made disasters. In this issue of our newsletter, you’ll find testaments from our volunteers in the field, including one extraordinary woman’s trip to Sudan made possible by an anonymous donor, a complete financial report as 91% of our donations go directly to program related costs, and testimony from Syrian refugees who still experience a great and ongoing need despite an influx of international assistance. Over 10 years have passed since KYM’s founding and we’re very proud with how far we’ve come but saddened by how many people still need our assistance. We invite you to read our newsletter and learn how you too can answer the people who call “Is there anybody out there?” with “Here I am!”

KYMNEWS Official Newsletter of Kimse Yok Mu Solidarity and Aid Association Volume 1 May-August 2014 Responsible Publisher Kimse Yok Mu Solidarity and Aid Association Mimar Sinan Mahallesi Basra Caddesi No: 24-26 Sultanbeyli | Istanbul Phone: +90 216 521 80 80 Fax: +90 216 520 16 16 Web: www.kimseyokmu.org.tr Mail: info@kimseyokmu.org.tr Conception and Edition by Kessaf Medya Atatürk Mahallesi Sengün Sokak No:3 Atasehir | Istanbul Phone: +90 850 433 54 54 Web: www.kessaf.com.tr Mail: publications@kessaf.com.tr Print Services by XYZ Matbaacılık LTD. STI. Contributors Cover Photography: Kursat Bayhan Guest author: Prof. Dr. Aykut Toros Illustrations: Necip Sahin Legend of Icons Writed by Interviewed by Photographied by Illustrated by Location

Savas Metin Secretary General

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

FOCUS

KYM could not stay indifferent to the typhoon disaster A

n ice-cold oaring tore down a whole country, and giant waves plundered the streets... many lives confined in an uncertainty of helplessness, fear, and tears... This is how the disaster of the century broke out in the Philippines! Then, the whole world went silent... Words were stuck in throats, and no answers came out... Unnamed uncertainty was everywhere. Not the hunger, not the drought, nor the wounds- what hurt most was the destitution!

Hamide Gunsari

Hatice Avci

Necip Sahin

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

ith hatred, a sorrow people lost their houses to fierce named ‘Haiyan’ came winds and the majority of the vicfrom the very depths of tims left their homeland on cargo the Pacific Ocean. Some peo- planes. ple called it ‘Yolanda’, and some Pursuant to the report released called it a ‘Super Typhoon’. The by the Philippine government, Philippines were actually used to 13 million people belonging to typhoons, but with winds of 275 approximately 3 million famikm per hour and giant waves of lies were affected by the disaster 15 m, Haiyan was not similar to in first degree. The death toll reany other... It was the most severe ported that November was over typhoon ever seen in the Philip- 5 thousand, and a reported 23 pines. It was the typhoon of the thousand were wounded. Nearly century. 2 thousand people were missing. The trees fell down due to the Following the extensive research, force of the gale, giant vessels UNICEF announced a report for were run ashore; houses are drift- the region. It called everybody’s ed away, landslides, roads became attention to the issues of fresh inaccessible, roads and streets got water and hygiene. It emphasized filled with ocean... This is a brief since that November, there has description of the island country not been access to fresh water when looking from above. I say and sanitation facilities in the rea brief description because what gion. Therefore, acute respiratory happened was not limited tract infection and pneuto a physical destrucmonia pose a threat to The tion... children. The report Philippines The UN OCHA explained that were actually Hu m a n i t a r i a n 160,000 children used to typhoons, Affairs Coordiwere living in the but with 275 km per nation Office evacuation cenhour and giant waves announced a reters. 1.35 million of 15 m, Haiyan was port in Novemof those children not similar to ber once the outwere below 5, and any other.... come of the disaster 650,000 pregnant showed itself. Accordwomen and nursing ing to this report, they mothers were at a risk of malestimated that over nutrition. Another striking 13 million people fact underlined in the rein the Philippines port is that the youth are were affected likely to commit crimes by the great due to harsh economic disaster. Over conditions. They are 4 million of likely to end up with stolen goods and this will increase the rate of crime. The island country could not be reached for days, so aid and relief could not be delivered in time and this increased the presence of chaos and drama in the country. The Philippines tried to

overcome the shocking effect of what happened through gradually increased aid from organizations. According to the report prepared by the UN OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office in November, relief organizations that are partners to the UN delivered food to 2.5 milKYM lion victims after the ASYA ImTyphoon Haiyan mediate Aid and sufficient maTeam arrived in terial was provided Tacloban after for reconstruction a challenging of 10 thousand journey. houses. Again, 130 healthcare teams from partner organizations provided urgent healthcare services in the region. IS ANYBODY THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES Broadcasting corporations emphasized one thing while the whole world watched what went on: Help Tacloban! This is where the disaster was the fiercest and the region was accessible by airway only. Only military authorities could do this. For this reason, sufficient aid could not be delivered to the victims. The ASYA teams observing the typhoon in the KYM ASYA Disaster Monitoring Centre saw how drastic the situation was in the Philippines and called for an extraordinary meeting. They immediately organized a team of 12 and set out for the disaster zone. After completing the initial preparations in the capital of Malindi, KYM ASYA Immediate Aid Team supplied urgent aid materials there and then after a challenging journey arrived in Tacloban. After completing the initial reviews in the disaster zone, the team provided 25 tons of aid material for the first stage and delivered it to 6,500 victims in collaboration with the UN and

On Photo

KYM has begun to distribute food to 250 families on a daily basis in the first phase and 20 thousand food boxes are planned to be distributed in total.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

THE PHILIPPINES

Quotes

Dinky Soliman Minister of Social Welfare and Development

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank KYM, and to the good-hearted people of Turkey for their precious aid and relief through ASYA because it is vital to receive such aid from overseas countries. They are priceless. They will help us.”

Alfred Romualdez Mayor of Tacloban

“I want to thank KYM which helped and supported us. They not only deliver aid materials but also take care of our people’s health. Not to mention that they feed nearly one thousand individuals per day. We need all the help we can get in times of crisis like this. You were one of the groups that were first to arrive here. This is an honor for us. I assure you that all Tacloban people are grateful for that. We do hope that we will be able to return your favor, kindness, and benevolence one day.”

The Philippines, or officially Republic of the Philippines, is an island country situated in the Malay Archipelago in southeast Asia. The country is composed of 7 thousand 107 islands in total, and the capital, Manila is 2nd in the world in terms of traffic. Its total area is approximately 300 thousand square kilometers. Many Philippines living in the country descend from Australians. There are also people of Chinese, Spanish, American and Arabic descent living in the country. Having a busy traffic, the Philippines exhibits traces of the oriental culture. The official languages of the country are Filipino and English.

local authorities. This was the first step taken to heal the immediate wounds. KYM management boards made an urgent decision of aid again after deliveries were delayed and existing aid was not sufficient for all the victims. İsmail Cingoz, General President of KYM stated “ASYA, our search and rescue team, arrived in the disaster zone. Our team conducted the aid activities in collaboration and harmony with UN, Red Crescent, AFAS, TIKA, and local authorities in the region. We distributed 25 tons of aid materials in the region after the first evaluation. Now, we adopted a resolution for an immediate aid of $1 million in line with the needs and requirements. Our aid and relief will continue as long as our benevolent people support us. We are going to make further efforts to increase the number of our ASYA team in forthcoming days. To extend a hand to a nation that is in need is a humanitarian duty for us all. I ask everybody to be responsive to this disaster”. On November 16th, Saturday, KYM ASYA Medical Rescue Team set forth from Ataturk Airport to the Philippines with a team of 12 volunteer healthcare professionals. After a long and riveting flight, the professional healthcare team arrived in the disaster zone, and began to work in collaboration with UN and the Ministry of Health of the Philippines. The garden of a wrecked church in Tacloban was converted into a clinic, and the volunteer healthcare professionals distributed medical supplies such as tetanus vaccines, vitamins, and immediate treatment materials according to peoples’ needs and requirements. The volunteers be-

“The Typhoon Swept Everything Away!”

“As the people of the Philippines, we were actually accustomed to these kinds of storms and typhoons. Having read some news on the internet, I warned my wife against a possible disaster one day before. I told her to leave the house but she did not listen to me. She told me that there was always this kind of news. Only one day later my fears came true. The typhoon’s speed was 275 km per hour, and swallowed my house by the coast with my wife and grandchild in it. The typhoon made us see the hell on earth.” Said Prof. Dr. Arturo M. Perez from the Department of Philosophy at the State University of the Philippines. He was invited by KYM to Turkey after the typhoon disaster and was hosted in KYM’s Istanbul Branch... “I was at work in the city of Cason where University of the Philippines is located. The typhoon broke out in the city of Tacloban on November 8th. My family was there alone. My house was by the coast. When winds with a speed of 275 km/h reached the shore, waves similar to tsunamis hit as well. They rose so high that the roof of the house was under water. The waves swallowed my wife and granddaughter. They could not survive”. Perez narrated the day the typhoon broke out. Expressing that he could not hear from his wife and his granddaughter for 4 to 5 days, Perez told us about his last talk to his wife. “I was expecting this. I saw it coming. I felt that my house would be blown away. When I talked to my wife on November 7th, she told me that she would not leave the house. Nobody expected it this, actually. Nearly 250 people perished in the nearby area where my house was. All of the houses by the coast were swept away.” He explained that he often talked to his son who was living in Tacloban, which was also destroyed. Prof. Perez told us that the denizens there left the city, as they saw no future. Underlining that they suffered a great destruction as a whole country, Perez said that medical supplies and food were the immediate needs of the country. He emphasized that KYM had been one of the first aid organizations to arrive in the Philippines after the typhoon. “The organization was first to arrive thanks to the schools. People of the Philippines will never forget the aid and reliefs of the Turkish schools and KYM in the post-destruction period.” Said the Filipino professor.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

LETTER OF THANKS BY THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT

The efforts of KYM at the time of the disaster in the Philippines were appreciated by Jejomar C. Binay, the Deputy President of the Philippines. Binay wrote a letter of thanks recently, addressing KYM and thanking them as follows: "On behalf of the Filipino people, I would like to express my hartfelt thanks and appreciation to the KIMSE YOK MU Foundation for the assistance you provided to all the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.” “The relief efforts and emergency response you provided not only improved the plight of the people in the Visayas region, but also helped uplift their spirits. Your generosity and kindheartedness made them valued and cared for, and these gave them hope despite their gloomy situation.” “I trust that we will continue to be partners in ensuring the welfare, rebuilding the lives, and shaping a brighter future for all those affected by natural calamities.” “I wish you more success in your future endeavors.”

came a source of happiness in the region after they spent the entire day tending to the victims’ healthcare requirements. Life has begun to turn back to normal in Tacloban, although slowly, since the immediate aid team of KYM distributed aid and relief. In addition to uninterrupted healthcare services, 2,000 victims are given hot meals on a daily basis. KYM has distributed food to 250 families on a daily basis in the first phase and 20,000 food boxes will be distributed in total. The volunteers will also deliver clothing to 5,000 people. 500 tents were purchased for the victims, and 30 prefabricated houses are also on the way. There are also ongoing works for reconstructing school buildings affected by the disaster. An office and logistics warehouse was deployed to the region to ensure permanent and sustainable aid and a vehicle was also purchase to this end. The preliminary budget of 1million increased later thanks to the great interest of Turkish people in the campaign and the scope of intended activities has also expanded. With the support of benevolent Turkish people, 20 students from Tacloban will carry on further education at the International School in Manila with a full scholarship for 4 years. The Directorate of National Education of Tacloban will be granted 40 computers. A full-fledged ambulance will be purchased and delivered to the authorities to be

utilized in Tacloban. 30 houses 50 sqm large and 1 kindergarten will be constructed in an area to be designated by the authorities. 100 tons of flour were purchased for the victims; an agreement will be made with local bakeries to ensure bread is made for 1000 families every day. A psychosocial support team of 5 is ready to offer psychological support for the mentally distressed victims. They will conduct workshops for traumatized children in particular. İsmail Cingoz, General President of KYM, indicated that permanent aid efforts were also initiated in the Philippines after the disaster of the century. He stated, “We have begun to work for an orphanage intended for children who lost their close relatives during the disaster. We consider that permanent aid such as housing facilities, a hospital, and school are vital for the local community. As KYM, we will continue to ease the pain of the Philippines with permanent aid and relief.” ‘State of Nationwide Disaster’ was declared throughout the Philippines and it was purely a human tragedy there. Aid delivered from all the corners of the world, helped to heal the wounds slightly if not entirely. KYM tried its best to stand by the people of the Philippines by providing immediate aid and healthcare relief. Now is the time to stand with the Filipino victims and to heal their wounds...

NEWS

FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT CONVENES IN THAILAND “Food Safety Summit”, which convened within the framework of the works conducted by “Humanitarian Aid and Development Forum”, was held at the United Nations Convention Centre in Thailand. tatesmen, members of the UN, representatives of NGOS, and representatives of many companies in the private sector were amongst 130 delegates contributing to the works of United Nations. From Turkey, the Secretary General of KYM, Mr. Savaş Metin, was present at the panels. Handling the food safety issue from the perspectives of permanent aids and disaster relief, Mr. Metin contributed to the panels by communicating KYM’s experience in these fields. As disasters frequently occur in our age, “’Food Reliefs in Time of Disasters” was a separate panel. Mr. Metin explained that food supplies are delivered to disaster zones following a meticulous review on durable foodstuffs (i.e. the area it covers, life, calorie

calculation etc.), considering the risks thereof, and Indicating that accessing to food is a high-risk activity in terms of safety during disasters. Mr. Metin emphasized that the need for clean water was the most important issue for food safety under a separate title in the panel. He discussed Sanitization process of water in industrial countries, adding that KYM opened water wells enabling access to healthy water resources in many territories around the world, particularly in Africa. In his speech to the summit, the Secretary General of KYM, Savaş Metin, stated that, “According to the data obtained from the United Nations, 60% of the world’s population is living below the hunger threshold. Every year, over 3 mil-

lion children die due to nutritional problems. 50% of the population is living in cities, and if migration from rural to urban areas continues in this pace, the recent studies demonstrate that this figure will reach 70% in the forthcoming years. Major collaborations are the key for raising awareness. For this reason, the need for international relief organizations such as KYM will increase on a gradual basis in the upcoming years. Such meetings like this will become more productive with the participation of experts; furthermore these meetings will become more necessary”. “Sustainable Agriculture” as a means to fight poverty was amongst the panels, which paved the way for further collaborations through innovative works, and this panel attracted great attention.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

COUNTRY ANALYSIS

Pakistan, PURE COUNTRY M

Meaning the ‘Pure Country’, its name is derived from the initials of the states Punjab, Afghania, Keshmir, Sind, and Baluchistan when India was a British colony. It subsequently became Pakistan as the British added the letter ‘i’ to PAKSTAN. It is a southern Asian country neighboring Afghanistan, Iran, India and China. It covers almost the same area as Turkey and is in 5 to 6 hours flying distance from our country.

Ozcan Inan

Hatice Avci

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

Photo: Lichtmeister/Shutterstock

akistan was a British colony for many years. Following the declaration of independence of former India. The people, a majority of who are Indian Muslims, gained independence in 1947. Ongoing conflicts have caused millions of Muslims to migrate to Pakistan, and millions of Hindus and Sikhs to the territories of new India. Therefore, only very few Muslims are living in India right now. Consequently, even fewer Hindus are living in Pakistan. In 1971, the region formerly known as East Pakistan declared its independence under the name Bangladesh. The four states of Pakistan each have their own federal administration. The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coastline is 1,046 km long to the Arabian Sea. River Indus, extending from mountains to the plains, is the heart of the nation. Dividing the entire country into two with its tributary rivers, it has a natural irrigation system that supplies water to arid regions. With a moderate and tropical climate, the country often experiences dry seasons, and it is exposed to floods due to heavy rainfall in monsoon season. River Indus overflows the riverbed at such times, causing drifting people and houses. Many Pakistani lost their lives to the recent flood disaster and thousands lost their homes. In 2010, after experiencing the greatest flood disaster of the recent past, the country has become even poorer since majority of the people live off agriculture.

KYM IN PAKISTAN: FACTS AND FIGURES

Construction of Ikbaliye Town

$ 7.000.000

$ 5.828.738

Food

$ 5.391.055

$ 2.694.779

Water Wells

Education Projects

Clothing

$ 792.000

IS ANYBODY THERE? The great flood disaster in 2010 resulted in the deaths of nearly two thousand people and affected approximately 20,000 people in Pakistan. KYM Team identified their accommodation needs and housing requirements. The authorities requested an appropriate location in order to construct a complex that would serve as a temporary solution and permanent residence

$ 6.118.006

Other

Total $ 28.460.418

2005 EARTHQUAKE: FACTS AND FIGURES According to official sources, 75 thousand people have lost their lives in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Pakistan in 2005.

45t

Through the first cargo flight after the earthquake, KYM delivered 45 tons of relief materials to the victims.

KYM gave quick response to the need in clothing, health care, food and shelter of 10 thousand people by establishing 1.000 tents in the region.

1.000

29 trucks carrying relief supplies were sent to the region

11 destroyed schools were rebuilt and deliverek to local authorities.

$ 4m

75.000

A check of 4 million dollars issued via the KYM’s help campaign has been given to president Musharraf with a ceremony

Total $ 12.000.000

2010 FLOOD: FACTS AND FIGURES

+20m

2 thousand people lost their lives in the floods that hit Pakistan in 2010. More than 20 million people have been affected by the disaster.

KYM delivered 45 tons of urgent relief materials to the victims just after the disaster.

Three trains transporting a total of 4.5 tons of relief material were sent to the region by KYM.

Kym constructed a town named Ikbaliye in the region. It consists of 296 residences, a school, a hospital, a police station, a health center, shops and a mosque.

1.000

43t

296

One thousand “household-type” tents have been established in three states affected by the floods.

A total of 8.200 boxes consisting of 175 tons food supplies have been distributed from 8 different centers affected by the floods.

Total $ 12.000.000 Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

to those who lost their houses in the flood. Flood victims were provided with tents and food supplies All KYM volunteers of every age raised over $12 million for the victims of the flood in Pakistan. PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN, SAYING “FIDELITY” AGAIN, SUCCORED Hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands were injured and lost their homes after the Van earthquake in Turkey. It was Pakistanis’ turn for fidelity and they mobilized to aid Turkey. The State of Punjab sent two Pakistan Air Forces military aircrafts immediately after the earthquake, and delivered supplies to the earthquake victims under KYM’s supervision. Afterwards, a group of businessmen from Pakistan donated $5,000 for the relief campaign launched in Van. Likewise, the State of Punjab donated $1 million for the KYM Education Complex and Social Facilities, which were constructed after the earthquake. The project, which cost 5.5 million TRY was recently completed. Displaying a good and benevolent heart, Shahbaz Sharif, the President of the State of Punjab donated $100,000 as well. PROGRAMME FOR THE ORPHANS, AND WATER WELLS KYM volunteers drilled 178 water wells throughout Pakistan in one year, providing 832,690 Pakistanis access to fresh water. Construction for 86 water wells are still underway throughout the country. A total of $792,000 has been spent for water well projects. KYM volunteers construct water wells even in desolate mountainous villages, and for this reason Pakistanis express a deep gratitude towards them. Just to give an example of their appreciation, a nurse whose husband is a doctor waited under heavy rain with her child for

ID CARD

Location

A south Asian country, neighboring Afghanistan, Iran, India, and China. 5 to 6 hours of flight distance from Istanbul.

Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Multan, and Sialkot.

Important Cities

796.095 sqm; covering almost the same area as Turkey.

Population

193.238.868. 6th biggest country in the world as per population.

Capital

Federal Parliamentary Republic

Islamabad

Regime Urdu and English (official), in addition to 70 local languages such as Punjabi, Pashtu, Baluchian.

Prime Minister

Islam (%97), Christianity and Hinduism (other religions) (3%).

President

2 thousand 900 Dollars

Currency

Languages

Navaz Sharif

Religion

Memnun Hussein

Surface Area

Income per capita

Pakistan Rupee (PKR)

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

DID YOU KNOW THAT

IN PAKISTAN: • They speak Urdu. It is a language composed of Turkish, Arabic, Persian, and Hindi words. • Britain is their second home and English is the second language. While talking in Urdu, people tend to use many English words. For example, ‘Baci, cold pani he?’ means ‘Sister, is there cold water?’ • Ornaments are an indispensable aspect. Women wear many ornaments, and elaborate clothes, and men decorate their raksha (a three-wheeled shared vehicle) or their motorbike and trucks with fine patterns. • Traditional clothes for men and women are ‘shalwar kamis’, composed of baggy trousers and tunic. • Women drop shawls over their shoulders as a sign of chastity. • Traffic moves on the left hand side same as Brittan. • Playing cricket at parks and on the streets is common entertainment for all. • Motorbikes are more common than cars. 4-5 members of a family ride on a motorbike easily. • Wedding feasts last for 3 days. • The capital Islamabad is divided into geometrical sectors; sectoral codes are used instead of district names. • Chicken is used in thousands of dishes. • Various hot spices are used for dishes. • The caste system survives. • Houses are equipped with generators due to frequent power outages.

hours during the opening of a water well only to say, ‘We give our thanks to the Turkish people for this water well.’ Before the water wells were drilled, the people of these mountainous villages had to walk 3 kilometers to get fresh water. In April 2013, the volunteers measured the body sizes of 500

orphan children who were residing in 7 orphanages and one women’s shelter to give them each customized clothes and new shoes as presents. The program for the orphans was like a festival for the children, and food cooked especially for the orphans were served. Stationery, toys, and food were distributed at the end of the day, adding to the happiness of children in an unforgettable day There are many local communities affiliated with KYM in Pakistan. A Pakistani individual who feels so proud of becoming a member of KYM printed a large and visible poster and hung it on his door for all to see.

NEWS

TOWN OF IKBALIYE IS DELIVERED TO THE PAKISTANIS WITH A CEREMONY The name of Poet Muhammed Ikbal, will survive in the town of Ikbaliye, which was constructed by donations from KYM and delivered recently to the Pakistanis with a ceremony. school and a shopping centre in addition to 296 houses costing 7 million Dollars in total was constructed for the flood victims in 2010 in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan with the donations from KYM volunteers. The Town of Ikbaliye was delivered to the Pakistanis with an official opening ceremony. Town of Muhammed Ikbal was delivered to the grandchildren of Ikbal in an official opening ceremony. It was constructed for the flood victims on 110 hectares located in Muzaffargarh in the Multan Region of the State of Punjab. 40 % of the state was flooded during the 2010 disaster. The town resembles the luxurious villa districts, composed of 296 houses, with 2 rooms each, one bathroom, one WC unit, one kitchen, and a garden. Electric-

ity and water utilities are available as well. There is also a school consisting of 12 classrooms, 6 green spaces, a marketplace, a 90 tons water tank, a mosque, and a shopping centre consisting of 12 stores. KYM completed construction in approximately 18 months. This magnificent town cost $7 million and KYM volunteers covered all costs. OFFICIALS PARTICIPATED IN THE OPENING CEREMONY İsmail Cingoz, President of KYM hosted the ceremony attended by Rano Mashood Ahmed Khan, Minister of Education; Sanaullah Khan, Minister of Justice; Ferasat Ikbal, Governor of Muzaffergarh; and Minister of Prisons, Religious

Affairs and Charitable Institutions. Many other invitees and prospective denizens of the town participated in the opening and delivery of the town. APPLICATIONS REVIEWED WITH DUE DILIGENCE To become a denizen of the town, occupants must prove that their house was completely destroyed or damaged to an extent that it cannot be lived in during the 2010 flood disaster. 60 different commissions examined the long list of 350 families chosen accordingly. 37 applicant family members were eliminated for not meeting the criteria at the first stage. After a set of meticulous reviews, commissions chose 288 families who deserved a place in the town.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

KYM CHAIRMAN ISMAIL CINGOZ

INTERVIEW

Kym is A friendship Hand FROM Turkey TO THE WORLD K

IMSE YOK MU is a relief organization to which an increasing number of philanthropists resort nowadays as we have been through many kinds of social or natural turmoils. We interviewed Ismail Cingoz, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the organization so that readers and followers of KYM NEWS get to know KYM better and find answers to their questions. Mr. Cingoz shared with us many details and information as well as his opinions on transparency, number of volunteers of KYM, which, he describes as ‘A bridge of charity expanding from Turkey to all over the world’, and sources of motivation for relief channels in general.

Sümeyra Marmara

Hatice Avcı

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

ow do you describe KYM from your own perspective as the Chairman? Kimse Yok Mu is a tree of charity and solidarity which was seeded and nurtured in Turkey and grew up to expand to the entire world. As an organization born in Turkey, we have an extensive base of operations with all our volunteers, donors and supporters from different ethnic and religious backgrounds throughout the country. We are grateful for anyone who has ever made a contribution for our progress this far as an NGO. We are an organization, which has been extensively accepted, so we are in a position that cannot be limited to Turkey any more. It would not be incorrect to state that we have volunteers, donors and sympathizers from a wide range of geographical territories including the Middle East, Africa, Far East, America and Europe. KYM has partnersjips and cooperates with institutions and entities located in these geographies. Within this context, I can describe it as a global organization which has grown with supports from an extensive base in Turkey, got beyond the boundaries of Turkey, and, now, has volunteers from all over the world. Nowadays, as we are experiencing troubles built upon the differences around the world, please tell us the position of and the mission undertaken by KYM? As it is evident, differences and discrimination are epidemic around the world, and KYM this leads to trouis deaf and ble. Looking at blind to differthis issue in a ences, vehemently historical conrefusing discriminatext, it can be tion, and has adoptsaid that clashed the principle of es were always living together in present amongst harmony. cultures, civilizations, and religions. The reason can be the discrimination and refusal of one another. Our organization dis-

plays a universal position, as it is deaf and blind to differences, vehemently refusing discrimination, and has adopted the principle of living together in harmony. KYM conducts its activities anywhere and everywhere where needed, without discriminating, to fight poverty, and for education, health, sheltering, therefore it contributes to the development of relevant regions. What are the criteria sought for the individuals and institutions that you help domestically or internationally? And how do you verify? Poverty is the indicator, which our organization relies on for a country or individual that will be assisted. Neither ethnicity nor religious background are taken or accepted as a criterion of any kind for the countries or individual(s) that we support. Any attempt to question this is considered as an insult to human dignity, and is not humane at all. Just to give you a recent example; the Syrian refugees who have taken shelter in our country are supported whether they are Kurdish, Turkish, Arab or of another nationaity or ethnicity; and we endeavor to meet their needs and requirements regardless of their religious backgrounds. As a result, the most significant criterion for applying or resorting to our organization is the state of poverty and need. All people, who apply to us, are all welcome. No other criterion is sought, and the applicantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; compliance with the said criterion is checked with the system established for this verification. KYMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Need Recognition Commission conducts socio-economic examinations on the families or individuals who ask for our help. While conducting socio-economic examination, we collect information and data from reliable parties and do interviews with the applicants/ receipients, paying great attention and care not to hurt the feelings of or offend the person in need,

in order to identify the needs of the applicant family or individuals. The individual, whose need is identified in this way, is forwarded to the aid commission for the next steps. We offer aid and relief to a country when it states a request for help via an international platform or when it states a special request for help to our country or our organization, or when it accepts our offer for help. A thorough research is not needed as relief to an overseas country is delivered after a disaster, or poverty and the Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve needs of the people in around the country or region 45 thousand are already known to registered the entire world. volunteers How do you deliver aid and relief materials? Aid and relief materials are delivered to the destination based on the principle of transparency to avoid any doubts. The location of delivery of the assistance is determined by the donor through a system of conditional donations, which enables the donor to designate the project and the location, which his or her donations will be used. Furthermore, majority of the donors are our volunteers. They take charge in the humanitarian aid programs and perform field works in person together with other volunteers. Being present throughout the world and conducting activities require tens of thousands of volunteers. For instance, tens of thousands of people took charge in a 40-day food aid organization, from preparing the aid packages to distributing them. Preparing an aid package and delivering it to the person in need takes two hours on average. Considering that 207 thousand packages were delivered, over 400 thousand working hours were spent on it, and this could only be realized with the help of tens of thousands of volunteers. In delivering aid to the person in

need abroad, we receive help from reliable institutions with which we collaborate. Following each aid and relief activity, a transferral report is received, filed and made available to the relevant authorities pursuant to the legislation and practices of the management commissions. How many volunteers do you have who participate in aid activities? We have around 45 thousand registered volunteers as of today. However, this figure increases gradually each day. There are also volunteers who have not registered to us but help us on a project basis. In some cases, a philanthropist may personally participate in an activity that she or he has donated for, or she or he might take part in a project. In addition to that, volunteers of the partner institutions

may contribute to the projects. What is the source of motivation for the volunteers? Is it easy to trigger them? Charity has no religion, language, race or color. Every single person has a different motivation to be good, to do a favor and to help others. Being a good person cannot be reduced or limited to religious values and ethnic roots. A person is a human being first then becomes a member of a family, group or religion. Kindness is a fruit of being human. From this perspective, love for human beings, generosity and compassion motivate people anyways. People that have very different sources of motivation may wish to stand with KYM. What we intend to do is to organize beneficial projects for people who are already motivated, instead of trying to

motivate them in the first place so that a collective awareness, which a person will not be able to deliver on his/her own, is reached. As KYM, we want to encourage people to reveal their kind and benevolent aspects; to act as a mediator; to bring together their commitment and benevolence to create a medium where it will benefit all. As for triggering and encouraging, it is not easy. Encouraging people to act in a well-organized way to conduct a project based on voluntariness is a formidable undertaking. However, it is not impossible. The big picture makes us see that people gladly come together for a reliable project that they believe in, and they accomplish great things together. Within this framework, our organization is a foundation that aims uniting people of the world for a common good in ac-

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KYM conducts its activities anywhere and everywhere where needed, without discriminating, to fight poverty, and for education, health, sheltering, therefore it contributes to the development of relevant regions.

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cordance with the principles of transparency and integrity. Regular aid assistance are delivered to how many people? I find it useful to state at first that KYMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sphere of activity is very broad. There are various domestic and international projects. As in the cases of Somalia and Pakistan; we deliver development projects consisting of tens of hospitals, schools, accommodation facilities and even towns. To these, we can add water wells, projects for the orphans, cataract treatments and many more... I would like to highlight that regular aid assistance is only a minor part of domestic aids within the entire aid projects. To give you some figures, there are 280 thousand families who have applied to us for receiving regular assistance. Regular assistance is delivered to 100 thousand of them. And there are 180 thousand people for whom socio-economic examinations are being conducted. Once these socio-economic examinations are completed, we are planning to deliver aid to all people in our database according to their needs by June 2014. To how many countries around the world do you deliver aid? KYM gives a hand to any country around the world from east to west and north to south. Relief efforts are conducted globally. KYM is an organization which, intends and KYM is an endeavors to delivinternational er aid all around humanitarian aid the world regardorganization born less of religious in Anatolia and has aspects and naconducted activitionality. It is an ties in 110 couninternational hutries. manitarian aid organization born in Anatolia and has conducted activities in 110 countries. Are there any international institutions and foundations which you collaborate and form partnerships?

Our organization has adopted the principle of collaborating with the NGOs, universities, state offices and similar organizations and institutions in the relevant country regarding the projects and/ or humanitarian aid activities. Through our Academic Coordination Office established within the organization; we follow up with the academic studies conducted in our sphere of activity around the world, and participate in panels, conferences and similar events. Furthermore our Academic Coordination Office conducts academic studies of its own in order to come up with cutting edge and innovative approaches in humanitarian aid and development field, and organizes international contests, panels, conferences and similar events in this regard. There are institutions and foundations with which we can collaborate and conduct shared projects in line with their objectives, targets and legislations, and we can partner with administrative bodies in a given country as well. For instance, in Somalia, we collaborate with the Ministry of Health. Apart from that, we have projects produced and conducted collectively with UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, World Health Organization, and African Union. Also, KYM holds a special consultative status of ECOSOC, which is one of the five bodies of UN. What message would you like to give to your donors, volunteers and volunteer candidates through KYM NEWS? I would like to convey my thanks to the people of our country; first, for supporting us in the path we have taken for charity, and to many other people that support us in different geographies around the world transform-

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There are institutions and foundations with which we can collaborate and conduct shared projects in line with their objectives, targets and legislations, and we can partner with administrative bodies in a given country as well.

ing their potential for charity into action. They have shown generosity as they rely on us, making KYM an organization of charity, which opens its doors, the rest of the world. We see that a single drop, though very precious as itself, becomes a pool and nurtures many when drops come together. I call on people of the world to come and join us to become a ring in the chain of the benevolence, and a drop in the pool of kindness. And I would like to express my gratitude to generous philanthropists who have always stood with us through their support.

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PORTRAIT

BENEVOLENCE TO SUFFERERS, RETRIBUTION TO EXPLOITERS S

ince its establishment, a wide range of sufferers has come to Kimse Yok Mu. Tens of thousands of volunteers have been working day and night to be able to reach out and respond to those who cry out ‘Is Anybody There (Kimse Yok Mu)?’, having lost a spouse, a job, being disabled due to an occupational accident, being no longer able to work due to a sickness, are left or suffering violence by a spouse, married against the wishes of the family and ran to survive an honor killing and suffering from many more situations. In this issue, we will turn our objectives one of them, Hasan Ergül. We decided to spend a day and draw a portrait of our volunteer; however his working tempo was too much for us. As soon as the research ended, we finished early and turned back home and rested!

Alper Uyanık

n a cool morning in Istanbul, I met with Hasan Ergül in Sultanbeyli to conduct some social research. I see a ‘young’ man aged 63 past the Yakacik Bridge, with his walking shoes on, an umbrella in his hand, a coat for the season, a cap on his head, and a bag on his shoulder. A retired artisan, Mr. Ergül has been volunteering for KYM since 2007. Already an expert on social research, which is the first condition of being able to respond to calls for help, he sets out to work on examining the socio-economic conditions of the people that ask for his assistance as soon as he is assigned to conduct new researches for the commission. After exchanging pleasantries, we set off to the streets of Sultanbeyli. I continue to observe Mr. Ergül with curious eyes, wondering what he is carrying in his bag. He takes out a worn map of Sultanbeyli with some labels attached. As it turns out, all social researches on the Anatolian side of Istanbul come under to him. Therefore he carries the map of all 13 districts with him, except for the Islands. As soon as he receives his assignment, he takes the map of the relevant district for locating the address. Another part of his preliminary research is his referral to his personal archive consisting of 35 volumes to see if the client has asked for help before. His notes include former applications act as a sort of a litmus test to assess the sincerity of the applicant. The labels that are attached onto the map include the contact details of the applicants and notes regarding related research. We begin to talk about Hasan Ergül’s first affiliation with KYM as a volunteer. Having worked as an artisan on the Halki Island for 50 years, Mr. Ergül wrapped up his business and retired. He then applied to KYM to become a volunteer. At first, he was sent to

Edirne to help the flood victims by distributing meat to people who were in need. Afterwards, he went to the organization to visit a friend. This was when he was proposed to conduct social research. “One after two after three, and we have reached out to five thousand clients.” He stated, emphasizing that time flies. He explained with a smile on his face that his family gives great support to his volunteering efforts. Sometimes his little daughter threatens him to write a letter to the organization as if a client, just to see her father more frequently. Mr. Ergül rushes to the locations every single day of the year except for Ramadan. He also makes visits for distribution purposes to different regions during periods of campaigns such as the feast of Sacrifice, apart from his social post. Pakistan is one of the destinations where Mr. Ergül volunteered for. After the flood disaster in 2010, Hasan Ergül run to the help of victims in the country where they established a centre of logistics and he volunteered to deliver the aid to the flood victims for a period of two months. NO PITY EXPRESSED FOR FALSE PRETENCE Even though I can more or less anticipate the social conditions of Sultanbeyli, I cannot tell what is ahead of us regarding research. Ripping off the label notes on the map one by one after each project, we end up at a hastily built shanty house as our next destination. Rather, a boxy room hidden in the shanties or a boiler room in an incomplete building. We encounter with people who cannot afford two chairs to sit on; or fleeing husbands claiming they can afford to bring home food, but put the blame for their lack of money on their wives for their ways. False pretence is what makes Hasan Ergül most angry while he conducts his research. If somebody making a false pretense while looking at Mr. Ergül’s

On Photo

I see a ‘young’ man aged 63 past the Yakacik Bridge, with his walking shoes on, an umbrella in his hand, a coat for the season, a cap on his head, and a bag on his shoulder.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

He takes out a worn map of Sultanbeyli with some labels attached. As it turns out, all social researches on the Anatolian side of Istanbul come under to him. Therefore he carries the map of all 13 districts with him, except for the Islands. On Photo

face, he makes it clear to the fake sufferer that their behavior is unacceptable, replacing his benevolence to harsh looks. Having no pity for false pretence, Mr. Ergül states that “We do not talk to the insincere people benevolently. One could pinpoint dishonesty at any time. We talk to them for a few seconds and then leave.” However, he underlines that he neither reproaches nor tells him his fault to his face. The first thing he does in the house where he visits for social research is to check the refrigerator, if there is one. After that, he takes a quick look at the boxes of other stuff here and there. It is no rare occasions that people who apply to the organization as clients actually have boxes of supplies. Or myriad of dishonest people might cheat the public bodies and relief organizations by claiming that they pay rent even though they are living in one of their relative’s house for free, or turn down job offers for not finding the salary sufficient although he is able-bodied, or claims that he is unemployed although he has a paying job. Some of the families are no different than modern time’s beggars as they lock up their furniture and goods behind the doors. What is more, they sell the goods and furniture delivered to them by charities and relief organizations, and then ask for new supplies converting aid to a commercial enterprise. Hasan Ergül explains that the commission turned down approximately 85% of the 5,000 applicants subject to social research until today, as they were not really aidless. He states, “Either false pretence, or being not needy or being accustomed to conducting illegal operations is what they are. The aid is delivered by virtue of the monies donated to and entrusted to KYM so that they are delivered to the ones that are really in need,” adding that he is working with due diligence to identify the really needy people.

I observed this attitude at first hand. Once he was done examining the house, he took out his notepad and the questionnaire forms issued by KYM for social research purposes. Once he asked for the Id card of the applicant, Mr. Ergül wrote down the national ID number of the applicant, asked for the utilities bills, checked the subscriber ID numbers to see whether the person in question is really indebted or not. He also phoned the landlord to verify the data collected. Should the spouse of the applicant show up at home during the social research, he asks cross questions to see whether they are really in need of aid or not. He inquires for the aids delivered by the district governorship, Society for the Protection of Children, district municipality, and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. If the applicant is unaware of them, he directs him to these authorities. If he deems that the applicant is really in need of aid, he never hesitates to call the competent authorities during the researches to ensure the aid is delivered instantly. He also collects information from the neighbors and tradesmen in the vicinity, ensuring he does not hurt the feelings of the applicant. “THE MONEY IS GONE!” There are many of pretenders and fakers identified by Hasan Ergül. The story of a wife claiming that her husband has left her; and of the husband who harbors the wife’s lie was quite interesting. By talking to the tradesmen in the vicinity, Mr. Ergül learned that the person in question was actually a butcher. So, he went to the butcher pretending to be a customer, and began a conversation with him. After verifying the identity of the butcher, Mr. Ergül revealed that he was from KYM and that he has just talked to his wife. Stating that the very first reaction of the butcher has been “The money is gone!” Hasan

Ergül then called the wife, telling her that she should thank him as he has found her missing husband, and that her husband would be home in the evening. Mr. Ergül added with a bitter smile that the woman’s first reaction had also been “ The money is gone”. In another investigation, the applicant woman said that her husband was working at the Fishermen’s Bazaar in Üskudar. Mr. Ergül took a picture of the family portrait on the wall and went to the bazaar, asking about the applicant’s husband to each of the artisans there. “They give themselves away.” He said. He continued, “The liver seller at the bazaar said that he knew the man. So, I took a seat and waited for him to come out. Our guy appeared and I asked and understood that he actually owned the store.” Then Mr. Ergül tells me that the liver seller said that his wife also applied to the organization for aid. Mr. Ergül continued, “I asked his wife’s name. I phone the organization to check the research report, which stated in the wife’s own words: ‘the husband has left the house and the electricity bills remain unpaid. Kids are going to school, and there is nothing left at home. I am desperate.’ So, I turn back to the man and tell him that this is not an investigation and ask him where he slept at night. He answered that he went home to sleep, that the electricity bill was being paid; there was food to eat and water to drink. I recommended that he ask his wife about her declaration when applying to KYM.” Many stories of exploiters that Hasan Ergül has told us about are revealed by the social researches conducted by the volunteers of KYM, and donations of sincere people are being delivered to the ones who are really in need of them after careful research.

“I WOULD NOT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS IF THEY OFFERED ME A WAGE” Hasan Ergül’s volunteer work in the field begins at 7.30 a.m. when he sets off every day. He takes care of social researches for 13 different districts from Tuzla to Beykoz. He begins the day early in the morning and carries on with his researches until 6 p.m. Here is what he shares with us regarding the researches done with a professional code of conduct: “I love this work. I would not have signed up for this if they offered me a wage. This is based on voluntariness.” His voluntariness is not limited to this. When he turns back home, he takes a shower and eats his dinner, then he works on until 11 p.m. The first thing he does is to make a clean copy of the notes taken down during the day, and make them for apt submission to KYM. He then enters them in volumes in his archive and his computer. As he wakes up early in the morning, he sometimes cannot finish documentation and archiving in the evening, so he does it before setting out to streets. On being asked if he ever runs out of time time, he says never. Stating that: “I set out to work every day, weekends included, regardless of feasts and holidays or bad weather conditions. The list is ready. I need to go to Sancaktepe. I finish all items on the list that day in Sancaktepe and then I go to Üskudar. Again, all items on the list for Üskudar are done.” After arriving in the relevant district by public transportation, he goes to all of the houses located with the help of his map either on foot or by shared taxi. Covering tens of kilometers per week, Mr. Ergül says that ‘If I drove an automobile, the tires would have been worn. I am yet healthy for walking.”

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

GUEST AUTHOR

A Travel to Sudan Getting out of Water & Flood

IF WOOD TURNED INTO CROCODILE WHEN DROPPED INTO WATER W

hite seagulls glide on the blue waters of the Bosporus as if they are defying dark ravens of Kuzguncuk (Raven Shire). I watch the waters flowing from Siberia to North Africa through the windows of my house in Kuzguncuk. Tomorrow I will depart for Africa. How many hours, I wonder, would a seagull to sit on an elephant’s trunk? I really mean the city of Hartoum, which has been named after an elephant’s trunk. Interestingly, the modern world cannot accept the name without letter ‘K’ in the beginning; it spells out ‘Khartoum’. Maybe this is for the benefit of Arabic speakers.

Prof. Dr. Aykut Toros* *Department of Sociology, Yeditepe University

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udan was divided back in 2011. They conducted a referendum, but things did not go as planned. The southern region wanted to separate. Just as they are now! There are two different governments. One is titled South Sudan, while the other is just Sudan. Oil remains within boundaries of the southern region; agriculture, though weak, is in the northern region. In today’s economic scheme, the southern region is stronger. However the oil, which benefits them now, is likely to cause trouble. What kind of troubles can the South Sudanese expect? Moreover their health conditions are at their worst. Infant mortality rate is above 100 per thousand. It is just as it used to be five decades go in Turkey. Although the northern region is in slightly better condition, the infant mortality rate is 60 per thousand. This makes life in Sudan sound more pleasant. To cap it all, they fight against natural disasters. They went through a flood in last May. The Nile River, famous for bringing life and fertility for those living by its coast, brought a flood this time. “Kimse Yok Mu?” Organization in Turkey embarked to heal their wounds as much as possible. Boxes of food and tents were made ready for Infant delivery to the dimortality saster zone where rate is above reputable relief 100 per thousand. organizations of It is just as it used the world have to be five dealready reached. cades go in They wanted to us Turkey. among them as well. I was invited and gladly accepted it. Obtaining necessary permits from my university, I now wait for the day of travel, which is tomorrow actually. Tomorrow is here and we arrive at Ataturk Airport. Özlem Erdoğan, who has worked in Sudan for three years, is with me. She is a talkative person, never stops, and

is obviously excited about the services provided to her family in the region. I cannot say it to her face but I can’t help thinking “Well done!” Her husband, Orhan departed one day before us for the welcoming preparations as well. Yellow fever also poses a threat in Sudan. Therefore, international organizations recommend that the travelers should be vaccinated in advance. Most of the countries do not accept the passport stamped by Sudan if a certificate of vaccination is not present. They do not let people in their countries. Therefore, I need to get the vaccination done. I phone the General Directorate of Health for Borders and Coasts. I am told that the vaccinations are made in Karaköy, however they could do it at the airport if I requested. So, I decide to get it done at the airport. I find the healthcare unit on the second floor of the international departures. There is just one person who is surely not a physician. I am told that the vaccination is made during working hours and not at the weekends. Obviously they think that the passengers flying on weekends are more robust and more resilient than the passengers flying on weekdays. I had time until the flight took off but it is not enough for getting to and back from Karaköy. I am shocked. No time for that either. So, I begin to insist. I happen to have the phone number of the Head Physician A.K., and begin to talk to him. He says to me, “I wish to come to sort the problem out but I am living in Karaköy”. So, I insist even more, and finally reach the second physician, L.B., who is not too distant from the airport. We make an appointment for 45 minutes later. The second physician shows up, gives me the vaccination and delivers my vaccination card to me. I go and find the rest of the group upstairs. I come across Nihat Doğan. “We are leaving together.” He says. We get onboard

of Boeing 700 Gediz airplane with Sefa Mutlu from Anadolu Press Agency, Taha Kılınç from Sabah Newspaper, and the lady who I will refer from this point on as the Charitable Person, as she wants to remain unanimous out of modesty I believe. She has made this trip possible with her donations. Before boarding the plane, I conduct my good luck charm of touching the edge of the door on the airplane. The first pilot, Selahattin Onan, manages the technology while Merve Uzay is in charge of the service. They say the flight will take 6 hours, “Yellow but we learn that it fever” poses will actually take 4.5 a threat in hours. Time flies by Sudan. eating, sleeping and finally the wheels of the plane land on to the field of Khartoum. I conduct my good luck ritual again and step out of the doors to Sudan. We are received in the VIP hall. Two lovely children of about 5 and 6 give us flowers. I ask what their names are. One is Salah and the other is Hassan. The ‘s’ sounds are stressed though. Following the protocols, we head to the hotel. Interestingly, the weather is not suffocating at all. To my surprise, the summer is over and it is fall here. I see that we are located on a huge plain so flat that an egg would not even roll down. Our hotel is named Assaha. As soon as I step in, I feel like Humphrey Bogart in ‘Casablanca’. There is a colonial construction, a garden full of palm trees and rural objects, narrow and low-riser stairs, a spacious room, heavy linen, and ornamented folding screens... The room is equipped with a working air conditioning. But there is something else. The ceiling is not plastered, but is covered by built-up beams and reeds just like a country house. I wonder if there are any insects. Despite this, I have no trouble falling asleep. I wake up to a train whistle

from the backyard in the morning. I still miss this. I certainly liked it. Breakfast is served in a narrow and long hallway. Curtains are drawn tight. Presumably, no sunshine is welcome indoors. It is an open buffet breakfast with fruit juice and broad beans next to one another. There are spinach pastries in the shape of a star like my mother makes when I go to Tarsus. There is even roasted liver that I’ve only seen before at a breakfast table in Adana. I see that a cultural exchange has taken place within time. I experience similar interactions afterwards. For instance, I see nigella and its derivatives The waiter speaks English and we begin chat. There are many Turkish people, I hear. And all of them became rich by taking their chances and benefiting from opportunities in Khartoum. “If there are so many opportunities for getting rich, why are you still working here?” I ask. “Wood does not turn into a

crocodile when dropped into water...” he responds, adding that opportunity and working should go hand in hand. That proverb forms the basis of my travel throughout my stay in Sudan. I try to evaluate and filter what I see from this perspective. Yes, Sudan is a land of opportunities for Sudanese and for foreigners. The first activity in our program is the visiting of El Sileyla orphanage for boys in Haji Youssef District. Main roads are asphalt, mostly with no pavement. Sand penetrates the road here, there, and mainly everywhere. I’ll let you imagine how the sand affects the braking capacity of your car. The group stops to drink water. I get out to check around. An old shared taxi, not bigger than a bus, drives past me. The assistant of the driver looks at me, curls his left hand into a fist, and opens his right hand to hit them together. I can’t believe my eyes. I check behind to see if there is somebody

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The first activity in our program is the visiting of El Sileyla orphanage for boys in Haji Youssef District.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

Main roads are asphalted, mostly with no pavements. Sands penetrate behind me and the road here and possibly if the there, mainly evassistant flipped erywhere. them off. Another shared taxi drives past me and the same thing happens again. I think I am losing my sanity. We get back to the car when the rest of the group comes out of the store. I tell them what just happened. They burst into laughter. That sign, which would cause a substantial fight in our country, means ‘no available seats’ in Sudan. In other words, the drivers’ assistants were telling me that there were no available seats on the shared taxi. Here is a good example of body language that I could tell to my sociology class. As we move on, we pass the houses covered with tin plates, plywood, and piles of hay that increase on the left and right hand sides of the road. We finally turn the corner to reach the orphanage. It is a dirt road, which turns into a muddy pit after 50 meters. We have to get out of the car and walk. “May I have your attention sir; this is the grocery shop of the district.” Özlem says. This grocery store is actually an adobe room without any windows. I see a shelf thirty centimeters wide colored dirty black where there are is granulated sugar and broad beans in bags no bigger than tea bags. There are two tomatoes and one of them is rotten. We arrive at the orphanage to deliver the aid boxes for children. They cheerfully come to us to take the aid boxes This then return back to grocery their seats. I walk store is actuaround them and ally an adobe see that they are room without having fun. There any winare children everydows. where and aren’t they the source of happiness? Happiness blankets everywhere. I remember the old times when pencil sharpeners, erasers, marbles (made of glass), which were from

USAID, were distributed to us I wonder if it could be dried, while I was in the third grade at ground, and made into flour for Tarsus Duatepe Primary School in convenience of transportation and 1953. We used to receive aid back storage. Pasta could be made with then, and today we deliver aids to it then. As you will remember we others. How can someone possibly once considered making baklava argue that Turkey is not progress- out of lentils very important. ing! We return to our hotel. But Once we finish our program, we can’t sleep because there is an we head to our next destination- event for the ‘Lebanese Night’ in Sudan Turkish Schools. Hüseyin the hotel garden. People who are Kocagenç, the General Manager from China, I guess, are talking of schools in Sudan, welcomes us. loudly. Fortunately it is over then We go into a quite different, yet I get to experience the Khartoum friendly, place. The ground is not night, absolutely silent except the soil but made of granite. Students sound of hoopoe bird tweeting are very clean. I see a girl with a from afar. Again, I cannot sleep, mandolin. I ask her if she can because I don’t want to miss this play for us. She is too shy to say lovely sound. a thing, but attempts to take During the breakfast, we the mandolin out of the lose ourselves in a deep There casing. But we go to conversation regardare children the manager’s room ing Tarsus. As you everywhere and instead. After small might know Tarsus aren’t they the talk, we are told Arabic culture was source of happithat students have in my childhood, ness? Happiness prepared a preand what we are exblankets everysentation for us. periencing in Sudan. where. A group of 6 pupils, I feel the connection both girls and boys, when we visit the grave began to chant our country of former Turkish rulers. At songs. One of the pupils is the the Municipality Street in Kharmandolin-playing girl. They are toum, there are graves of pashas very good at it. They came in sec- who ruled as governors, comond at the Turkish Olympics. manders, and prefects in 1800s. We depart from the school for They are encircled and dyed musa dinner invitation hosted by the tard yellow, not looking so bad. spouse of Vice President of Sudan. Ottomans managed reach this far, The reception is at their home. rule these lands, and without the Obviously, they furnished the help of today’s technology! How room by resting the seats by the did they coordinate with Istanbul? walls for this. Reproductive health Although it is difficult to underis the main theme emphasized by stand, it is very praiseworthy. I our host. It is refers to our Zekai wish the prayers we utter reach Tahir Burak Hospital. They are the souls of Ahmed Pasha (1839constructing hospitals modeling 1844), Musa Pasha (1863-1865) ours. I commemorate the late and others. May god rest their Head Physician Dr. Ziya Durmuş. soul, and grant a final resting place He emphasized that Sudan needs with his fellow believers… extensive efforts to this end. Let When the car stops at a red our non-governmental organiza- light, street traders come. This is a tions learn about this. The food bit different experience compared is open buffet served outside. We to ours. In our country, they sell have meat, rice, stuffed eggplant, bottled water, Turkish bagels, cell hummus, chicken etc. Broad phone chargers, and toys. They do bean is consumed a lot in Sudan. not act in groups. But here tons of

different street traders pass as if in that civil laws will actually govern a parade of mobile supermarkets. in the course of time. No insisting or shouting, no offiOur second stop for delivering ciousness. They just pass by with aid and relief is the Province of what they offer in their hands as if Ummedde. At first we go to the on a parade. Omdurman regional center. After In the afternoon, we go to deliv- attending to a ceremony with the er aid to the flood zone. We first district governor and the other ofgo to Sergani District, El Kireyyat ficials, we are interviewed for TV, region. The houses are adobe and then we move towards where built on a flat plane. River Nile the sun sets. We reach the outhas flooded the melting adobe. skirts of Khartoum. Armed guards Everything has collapsed. Fortu- accompany us. Finally we stop nately, the ruined houses are not in a place where a couple of colheavy enough to kill people living lapsed houses made of adobe are in them. But the floodwaters have scattered on a very flat plane plain. scattered many people, taking It is not a village and definitely many lives. Orhan Erdoğan, repre- not a square. We are told that this sentative of Kimse Yok Mu Orga- place acted as a center for ten to nization, collaborates with the fifteen villages. All of a sudlocal authorities to conden women materialHow duct aid distribution ize from everywhere. Ottomans without causing any They are dressed managed reach chaos or mayhem. in motley clothes. this far, rule these Nihat Doğan seems One cannot help lands, and without very committed to thinking that womthe help of tothe distribution efen are similar everyday’s technolforts. I take my part where. They are given ogy! gladly as well, questiona number on a piece of ing what I have done to depaper and the aid is delivserve the gratitude in the eyes of ered according to these numbers. these victims. They receive the aid packages and I talk to the people during dis- put them on their heads then walk tribution. Besides the disaster, we away. Women with aid boxes on talk about the current social issues their heads walking towards the in Sudan. Two of them draw my sunset is a sight hard to forget. attention: The first one is female The distribution of aid is comgenital mutilation. They say that pleted successfully without any this tradition should be aban- ensuing chaos, so it is time for doned and anyways it is prohibit- us to return to our hotel. Behind ed. But it still is a common prac- the main road, there is a building tice. Girls are genitally mutilated at the right hand side of the dirt at an early age. The curious thing road named the Health House. I is that the fathers oppose it, while want to take a closer look so we mothers arrange it in secret despite stop by. It is an adobe hut. There is the objection of the fathers. There something like a litter and a table are different methods, though. inside it and a pile of medication The most radical one is called on the table. Not the slightest sign ‘pharaoh genital mutilation’. I feel of water though. There is a phyI need to write a specific article on sician there, who is not aware of this interesting issue. The second the fact that the infant mortality one drawing my attention is ‘in- rate is a measured demographic. heritance’, which is not divided He says they are making progress equally between men and women. with healthcare services as two out Women are not even granted any of three babies survive. shares in some cases. It is hoped With another quest complete,

On Photo

I talk to the people during distribution. Besides the disaster, we talk about the current social issues in Sudan.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

They are given a number on a piece of paper, and the aids are we turn back to delivered accordthe hotel. There ing to these is a mosque built numbers. in modern architecture adjacent to the new bridge on the roadside. It is impossible to miss it. It has no corners, and resembles a folding lamb in the form of a melon. Symbolically, I think it represents light illuminating dark night. It is called Nileyn Mosque. Taha, one of my fellow travelers, informs me that Nileyn means two Niles, just like the word “parents”. I see the White Nile on the right hand side and the Blue Nile on the left hand side ahead of me. They emerge at this point. It really is like a newborn child; Nile comes to life, grows up and flows to the North, to Egypt, and to the Mediterranean. The water is plenty! Under normal circumstances, the water level is 6 meters under the road level, but it has reached the road now. I stick out my legs, my socks and feet get wet in the Nile. The driver, Nadir, says that if Nile touches you, you always return to her. Who knows? Is life really that long? The President’s brother is giving a reception this evening. The dinner is at a luxurious restaurant in Khartoum. Restaurants and venues are gathered together here. We are on the second floor of a restaurant. Özlem, the volunteer, is on good terms with Mr. Al Bashir, the President’s brother. They share jokes. We laugh as well. They also state that It realTurkish people do ly is like a not speak Ennew born child; glish. Mr. Al Nile comes to life, Bashir suggests grows up and flows everybody into North, Egypt, and troduce himself the Mediterranean. or herself and he The water is begins first. So, evplenty! erybody states their names and occupations. Short conversations follow. And it is my turn. I speak bit longer than others and a little in English. Mr.

Al Bashir is surprised. So, I keep face is dirt again. Orhan says that up with the appearances. A num- dirt ground is a must. He must ber of souvenir photos are taken know something that I do not. during the reception. Plaques are presented after the cerWe are scheduled to travel to emony; sashes are worn on shoulDarfur region next day. Darfur ders. I admit it looks nice. means the ‘region of furs’ as we The time has come to visit the know it. We are heading to Dar- Cataract Treatment Facility. Its acfur’s capital of Nyala. It was a re- tual name is Kimse Yok Mu Aid gion in turmoil during the reign Organization Cataract Project. of Qaddafi but is calm now. Cap- My dear friend, whom I refer to tain Ramadan flies our TARCO as the ‘Charitable Person’ above, Boeing 737 on 13.41. I am hun- has financed it. Three hundred gry. Food is served. Bread, Swiss persons who have lost their sight cheese, biscuits, and cake accom- regain it in just 10 days. This is panied by a little guest, who might a great feat. So far, doctors have be hungry as well. I leave my share performed 16,000 surgical operato it and drink other beverages tions. I see that the Charitable Perserved. I watch Sahara Desert be- son is very happy with it. ‘This act low us through the window. I can of philanthropy would absolve all see some rivers and ponds sins, if any.’ I think to myDarbelow. Savannah replacself. Turkey brings sight fur es the desert as we apto the Sudanese people! means the proach Nyala. Trees May God bless all who planted at a distance, region of furs made this possible! as we know and some green spaces The soldiers halt us it. in between... Nyala looks with machine guns cougreen. This is because we ple of times on our way to are in the rainy season, although Furgan region. They explicitly it will soon end. They say every- say that Furgan is the region of thing will dry up and turn pale furs as the existing flora is food yellow in a blink. for fur animals. Furgan is a region A senior welcoming committee where trees are sparse, while the awaits us at Niyala. The Minis- ground is covered by bushy vegeter of Finance, Minister of Ag- tation just like in movies. We pass riculture, and Minister of Social between conic-roofed round huts Security are all present. Guns in of Africa, and arrive at a penthouse the hands of the guarding soldiers where little boys gather for schoolshine under the sun. It is obvious ing. Instructors teach them the that security is not taken as a joke Quran. They wish to get educated here. After a little rest in the VIP on other things too but there are hall, we visit the Turkish school no teachers to do so. They burned at Nyala. It is very different com- letters and texts to the board and pared to its locality. Huzeyfe and use these as alphabet. Little girls his Sudanese colleague first met in are gathered approximately 300 Turkey host us. Later, Sefa, Taha meters away to get the same eduand I go to Coral Hotel. Every- cation. I count 80 little girls gaththing is in five-star quality. ered under a penthouse of ten m2. It is Thursday. There is an openFor some treats, they take us to a ing ceremony for the Perihan Koç nearby streambed. It is a cool locaTıfıl Orphanage in Nyala. Peri- tion under sycamores. The people, han resides in Canada. I guess she who I saw in suits in the morning, could not make it to the opening are in jallabas here. We lay down due to rheumatism. The ceremony and a short-beaked parrot flutters begins when the governor arrives. about, looking at us from a branch The buildings are neat but the sur- above. This reminds me of the syc-

amores by the Kırgöz Stream back home. The treats they gave us were all typical-meat and rice eaten by hand and fresh, warm camel’s milk. We discuss economical opportunities in Sudan. These opportunities will not fit into this article, however I must talk about one of my observations: The country has gold, has fertile soil and rain; education is developing, demands are increasing; urbanization process has picked up pace; there are no building yet, but there will be; there are no schools yet but they will be built; there is no technology yet but it will be introduced; men are looking for jobs, women want to work and there are no entrepreneurs to organize all this. The ones who are living here have already worked hard and reached their goals. If these are not opportunities, then what are? Entrepreneurship is what is needed here. Action is what is needed here. In other words, Wood does not turn into a crocodile when dropped into water. Near sunset we set out to return. We spiral within the savannah. We check out a well Kimse Yok Mu opened for agricultural irrigation. It is in good conditions and operating. Orhan is very pleased with it. We reach the country road. The sun is close to setting in the horizon. People, materializing here and there come to the road functioning as the main pathway in this rural area. They look like a line of ants on the country road. They are turning back from their fields. Some of them are walking and some of them are on a mule’s back. No men here. They are all women, seemingly tired but cheerful. This is Africa welcoming an evening. Sudan trusts in its women as much as it does in its men. In its absolute serenity, Africa has spread its arms wide and calls onto friends: “Is Anybody There?”

On The Photo time has come to visit the Cataract Treatment Facility. Its actual name is Kimse Yok Mu Aid Organization Cataract Project”. It has been financed by my dear friend, whom I refer to as the ‘Charitable Person’ above. 300 persons who have lost their sight regain their sight in just 10 days.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

FOCUS A drama with its humanitarian aspect almost forgotten

SYRIAN REFUGEES

So many things have been said and discussed about them. Since the time this country faced the realities of refugees, there have always been people who expressed their opinions before their keyboards regarding the political aspect of the issue. The ones who had a pen wrote down many things. There were some who are categorically opposed to sheltering them in Turkey and others who gave them their unconditional support. Nevertheless, reality cannot be shaped according to our perceptions. As KYM NEWS, we take a look the Syrian refugees in Kilis, Malatya, Mardin, and in Istanbul in order to portray the humanitarian aspect of the issue. We presented the real picture without hiding anything in our cover of this issue.

Alper Uyan覺k

Necip Sahin

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

It has been nearly 3 years since the human drama in Syria began. According to the official figures, over 120,000 civilians lost their lives in this asymmetrical war. Observers clearly reveal the systematic tortures, harassment, and violations of human rights tens of thousands of detainees suffer in state prisons. There are also war crimes in the picture and hundreds. Chemical weapons tragically kill young and old together. All of the big cities are affected by the war. We face a war where 400,000 houses are completely demolished, 1.2 million are rendered uninhabitable, 500,500 schools and 3,800 mosques no longer function, 57% of the hospitals and 60% of the ambulances are out of service, and nearly 15,000 physicians flee their homeland. This is a dirty and relentless war that has led to a severe lack of healthcare provisions. As in the case of all

wars, children are affected worst. lion went to relatively safer locaAdrian Edwards, the speaker of the tions in their country, whereas the UN High Commissariat of number of those who seek Refuges (UNHCR), shelter outside Syria is Number shares his concerns. over 2 million. Part of children “We are concerned of these people took who are exthat the rupture in refuge in neighborposed to malnusocial solidarity and ing countries such as trition is near security damage the Turkey, Jordan, Leba2 million. children in particular. non, and Iraq. HowevNearly 2 million of chiler some of them were endren dropped out of school, snared by human traffickers and an increasing number of them and risked their lives in Egypt, Itare exploited as cheap labor or are aly, and Greece. The boat disaster recruited as child soldiers by cer- news reported in recent months tain groups.” There are a myriad reveals the severity of the issue. of children who had to leave their It is an undisputable fact that we parents and consequently suffer are facing a rapidly growing need from extreme depression and fear. with every passing day. United NaLack of food adversely affects 4 tions has initiated the ‘Bread and million people, and the situation Blanket for Syria’ campaign, and became apparent recently after a nongovernmental organizations fatwa was given to approve con- have contributed to the needs and sumption of canine, feline and requirements of Syrian refugees, donkey meat. Number of children as they still do. For instance, aid who are exposed to malnutrition is amounting over 57 million TRY near 2 million. Women, whose have so far been delivered to the families have fallen apart, Syrian refugees from the condiand who have to functional grants to KYM. The given tion as the head of their figure may multiply till our guests remaining family, learn to stand on their own feet. are the most affectThe figures are insufficient to ed group together express refugee big picture in Turwith the children.” key. Therefore, we seek out the refugees in Malatya, Kilis, Mardin 800,000 and Istanbul- where many are livREFUGEES ing now. They neither wanted to ARE IN TURtalk nor give pictures, as most of KEY them are still worried for their life Millions of Syr- or for their relatives left behind in ian people whose Syria. They tend to run away withlives have become out a backward glance as soon as hell face death at they see the recorder and camera. each moment are Fortunately, we were able to reach seeking a safe har- some refugees and listen to their bor for themselves life story with the help of KYM in this chaos. Ac- volunteers who help refugees in cording to the the field. Our first stop was the UNHCR, container city in Malatya. After 4.5 mil- that, we participated in food and meat distribution in Kilis together with a group of volunteers coming from Istanbul and then we visited a polyclinic and another container city in Öncüpınar. After listening to the story of Assyrian refugees

SYRIA CRISIS: FACTS AND FIGURES* *as of March 2014

9.300.000

Estimated number of people affected by the crisis in need of humanitarian assistance

+100K

6.500.000

Estimated number of internally displaced

On July 2013, the UN put out an estimate of over 100,000 deaths

Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey

634.147

2.562.793

Number of registered & awaiting registration refugees (UNHCR & GOT)

Number of daily new Syrian refugees

Total amount of the expenses made by Turkey for the Syrian refugees

+ 2 billion dollars

5.000

Estimated number of destroyed and damaged housings

1.600.000

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from Syria settling in Mardin, we departed for İstanbul, and listened to the story of refugees who took shelter in the metropolis. SENSE OF EMPATHY IS THE GREATEST EXPECTATION Latif Memiş, Deputy Governor of Malatya, received KYM NEWS where the Beydagi accommodation facility under AFAD’s management accommodates over 7,000 Syrian refugees. He says that there might be a lack of perception although the Syrians do not suffer greatly during the normalization process. He Indicates that the Syrian refugees who have taken shelter at the camps are either poor or have become poor despite previously being rich. Hamza Demir, Provincial Director of AFAD Malatya, explains that the richer refugees settle in different provinces throughout Turkey and some of them establish businesses and engage in trading. The Beydagi accommodation facility experienced its first trial after the Syrian crisis. Established on 430 thousand sqm area, the container city has a capacity of 10,500 persons. According to the information obtained from Nihat Yazıcıoğlu, Manager of the container city, the facilities were commissioned in June and are composed of 2,000 containers, three playgrounds for children, and a social complex consisting of two schools and two mosques each. There is a kindergarten undertaken by KYM, which recently laid the foundation. It will be in service as of next year. Over 600 personnel and volunteers are doing their best to make war weary refugees feel comfortable, if not at home. Latif Memiş, the Deputy Governor of Malatya, says that they are taking care of all needs and requirements of refugees living in their city, underlining that a sense of empathy is the greatest expectation of Syrian refugees from

On Photo

Beydagi accommodation facility experiences its first trial after the Syrian crisis. Established on 430 thousand sqm area in total, the container city has a capacity of 10 thousand and 500 persons.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

the people of Turkey. “HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THE BENEVOLENCE AND KIND HEARTEDNESS OF TURKISH PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.”

On Photo

A Turcoman, named Muhammad Sharif Huveyk (68), who fled from Hama and took shelter in Turkey nearly a month ago, was subsequently placed at the Beydagi accommodation facility by the authorities, expresses that he is very content with the kind interest from the people of Malatya.

Despite everything, the Syrian refugees are never tired of expressing their gratitude. The refugees in the camps are grateful to government, to the public, and to non-governmental organizations. A Turcoman, named Muhammad Sharif Huveyk (68), who fled from Hama and took shelter in Turkey nearly a month ago, was subsequently placed at the Beydagi accommodation facility by the authorities, expresses that he is very content with the kind interest from the people of Malatya. He led average life back in Syria, fathered 11 children and 29 grandchildren. Huveyk did not only lose everything to the war, but also went into a substantial amount of debt for passing the border. A group living in both sides of the border that earned money for getting refugees pass through minefields, charged people like Huveyk, who did not have a passport and had to pass the border through illegal means, ‘per head’. They are named the ‘headmen’. After being swindled by these headmen for crossing into Turkey; Muhammad Sharif Huveyk lost two of his grandchildren, ages 8 and 14, during the bomb attacks. Huveyk is so pleased with the living conditions and kind interests of the authorities at the camp. “I would stay here, if permitted, even after the war ends.” He says. His only complaint is the insufficient food checks granted by United Nations per person amounting to 80 TRY. The authorities add 20 TRY to make amount 100 TRY. The Turcoman refugee wishes to “Go to Malatya to get to know people better.” Another grateful refugee is Ab-

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

KYM AIDS TO SYRIAN REFUGEES: FACTS AND FIGURES

187.228 $

Education

2.710.280 $

Food

4.809.093 $

18.227.757 $

319.366 $

Total:

Clothes

352.863 $

Health

Others

Furniture /Effects

Cleaning /Hygiene

1.853.831 $

28.460.418 $

durrahman Hadjimuhammad (46) from Humus. He states that they are treated nicely and the Manager, Nihat Yazıcıoğlu, always shows interest in them. “Hopefully, we will be capable of responding to the benevolence and good heartedness of Turkish people in the future”. Mr. Hadjimuhammad continues. Having lost four of his cousins in the war, HacıMuhammad has not heard from his elder brother, who went to join the Opponents and got lost ever since. The refugee from Humus says that the soldiers burned down his house, so he had nothing else to do but to take his wife and seven children to Turkey for shelter. He used to engage in trade before the war broke out. He owned an automobile gallery, an aluminum processing workshop, and a poultry farm back at home. When things became intolerable, he sent his wife and children to Turkey first, then left everything behind and set out to a 22-day travel to arrive in Turkey. “The reform-minded people burned down my house and confiscated everything I had. I could not take anything with me; I took my shirt on and fled.” HacıMuhammad explains. Halid Elmuhammad (55), who came from Humus’ Tisni village as refugee to our country, says that the soldiers occupied his village, captured 150 people, executed them by firing squad, and threw them into sea. He says that the village of Tisni was evacuated in one night They took shelter in another village before they arrived to Humus, followed by Aleppo, and finally to Turkey. The refugee from Tisni lost his elder brother and his son-in-law- to the war. He is living in the Beydagi container city together with his wife, child, and other brothers. He states that he sometimes talks to his relatives who stay in Turkey on phone. He says that he hopes that he will see their faces even it is on the screen one day.

“A GENERATION IS ON THE VERGE OF GETTING COMPLETELY LOST DUE TO WAR” With its cosmopolite atmosphere, Mardin has become a symbol of living together. The characteristics of the city are even present in the profile of Syrian refugees living there. Being the capital to ancient cultures, Mardin embraced Syrian refugees who were seeking a safe haven to live after the war. Eymad Yusuf (43) is one of the Assyrians who used to live in Haseki before the war broke out. He had to flee due to the conflicts that arose after the rebels captured the city. Settling in Mardin together with his wife and his sons, Yusuf worked as a representative of spare parts for heavy vehicles before the war. The greatest problem the Assyrian refugees face, although they are very content with the attention of the people of Mardin, is that their children cannot continue their education. They are concerned for the future of their children, as they cannot register their children to a state school without a residency certificate. The refugees underline that a generation is on the verge of being completely lost due to war. Mariana (21) was a sophomore studying English Language and Literature at the university. However she had to quit school when bombs were exploding. She fled to Mardin together with her fiancé, Carlos (24), who was a teacher before he was enlisted as gendarme. He ran away due to the torture crimes committed by the army. Her biggest wish is that when the war ends she can resume her education. The couples married in Mardin and now live in a boiler room in an old building. Their families stayed in Syria. Carlos says that he does all kinds of work to earn a living. He adds that his only wish is to be able to return to their families if and when the war ends. Carlos says that he is concerned whether the soldiers in

On Photo Hadjimuhammad (46) owned an automobile gallery, an aluminum processing workshop, and a poultry farm back at home. When things became intolerable, he sent his wife and children to Turkey first, then left everything behind and set out to a 22-day travel to arrive in Turkey.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

On Photo

We see children who tap our car windows at red lights and old people who beg on the streets. Nevertheless, as soon as they see the camera, they run away from us. Only Abdurrahman accepts being photographed.

Haseki would harm their families as he ran away from the army so he did not allow us to take pictures. Subhi Vali (55) is just another person whose children had to quit school because of the war. With the help from his relatives, Mr. Vali settled in Istanbul nearly a year ago. The Vali family rented a house for 600 TRY in Mahmutbey. Now they are trying to live off with the monthly salary of 800 TRY earned by the 18 year old young man of the house who works, uninsured, in a belt factory. “Electricity, water, gas. The salary of my son evaporates before the end of the month. So we try to survive with aids coming from friends and organizations like KYM.” Says the father. Subhi Vali cannot contribute to the family budget because he cannot find a job and he cannot send his 16 year-old daughter and 12 year-old son to school due to financial obstacles. One of his daughters took refuge in Lebanon with her husband. His other two daughters are living in Saudi Arabia because they married into families there. Feeling sad for not being able to send the little children to a school, the father regretfully states, “I am unemployed. Schools ask for money. We cannot afford stationery. That is why we cannot send them to

school”. Mr. Vali, a man of Turcoman descent, says that they always saw Turkey as their homeland and they dreamt of settling to Turkey for good even before the war broke out. “This was ment for today” Vali adds while he hangs a Turkish flag on the wall of his house rented at Mahmutbey. Subhi Vali is one of the lucky few Syrians who is living in Istanbul. It is enough to walk along the Fatih-Aksaray line just to see how harsh the conditions for some refugees are. Adding the Beyazıt, Bağcılar, and Şirinevler-Bahçelievler line to that, we are facing a brand new of migration wave estimated to be around 100,000 already. Parks and abandoned areas are occupied by Syrians with no place to go. We see children who tap our car windows at red lights and old people who beg on the streets. Nevertheless, as soon as they see the camera, they run away from us. Only Abdurrahman accepts being photographed. He neither tells us his last name nor shares his story. He probably wants to remain anonymous just like other hundreds of Syrian refugees. He silently poses for the camera as if slapping us with the fact that he is merely one of the hundreds of thousands which are mere figures for most of us. And we take a picture.

NEWS

DEFICIENT LIVES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PHOTOGRAPHERS “Which frame would be wide enough to reflect such scarcity and poverty? Which photographer could be strong enough to convey what he sees with his very eyes? There are so many things hidden behind a single world in life …”

YM fights poverty and scarcity in over 100 countries around the world, and an exhibition called ‘Deficiency’, composed of the photographs by the volunteer photographers of KYM was opened at APCO at 4 p.m. on February 11, Tuesday. Created by Zeynep Dereli, the General Manager of APCO Worldwide Turkey, the exhibition received and hosted famous names from the social, business, art and political circles. Savas Metin, Secretariat General of KYM provided information of the exhibition ‘Deficiency’: “Modern people complain about tens and even hundreds of deficiencies every day. A bigger house, a fancier car, new clothes... However fresh water or a school for education or a hospital for getting better are the biggest deficiency for millions of people that cannot have access to them today. The exhibition was held to call people’s attention to

what is deficient around the globe in the hope of supplementing them.” He said. Why deficiency? Zeynep Dereli, the General Manager of APCO Worldwide Turkey uses her own words to tell us what purposes the exhibition serves. Here is how she tells us about the exhibition ‘Deficiency’: “Having witnessed the existence of people that only hope and ask for food for living, that a warm heart of a perfect stranger, and consider a sip of fresh water s the most precious thing on earth, and having become aware that every year 3.4 million people die due to lack of water and diseases arising from unhealthy water resources; KYM has drilled 750 wells in 15 countries since 2011, providing fresh water to 1 million 582 thousand and 152 people in total. Having seen that hundreds of young and elderly people, that lost their

live due to insufficient healthcare in Africa every year; KYM opened 4 fully-equipped hospitals in towns in Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya that needed them the most so that diseases would not hinder happy and bright days to come. Having witnessed that 61 million children around the world could not go to school especially in the last two years, and knowing that lack of education is the root for all problems; KYM constructed complexes, composed of educational, healthcare and dormitories on 75-thousand sqm area in Somali, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Niger, and Bangladesh in order to eradicate the problem. Despite all this, KYM argues and defends that there are millions of others around the world waiting for our aid, so we intended to narrate and raise awareness for deficiency and deprivation from their perspective to ensure they are not deprived of it.”

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

PHOTOREPORT

SYRIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY

Alper Uyanik Kilis

Cengiz Ogutucu

Kilis

Hatice Avci

Kilis

Hatice Avci

Kilsi

Alper Uyanik

Malatya

Alper Uyanik

Gaziantep

Alper Uyanik

Gaziantep

Hatice Avci Kilis

Cengiz Ogutucu

Kilis

Cengiz Ogutucu

Kilis

Hatice Avci

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Hatice Avci

Gaziantep

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Gaziantep

Alper Uyanik

Gaziantep

Alper Uyanik

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Kilis

Alper Uyanik

Kilis

REPORT KYM 2010–2013 Africa Report*

SERVING with noveL METHODS each AND EVERYday “

“Kimse Yok Mu holds a special place in our hearts for the service they provide each and every day. Many charities conduct general aid activities and we’re deeply grateful, but Kimse Yok Mu on the other hand teaches people how to support themselves and encourages them to live meaningful lives. These are great social and economic endeavors,” said Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of Somalia as he awarded KYM with Somalia’s Meritorious Service Medal. Somalia is one of many countries where KYM carried out humanitarian relief from 2010-2013. Africa holds a special place in KYM’s history. Africa was the first place outside of Turkey where KYM ventured to conduct international humanitarian aid. In total, KYM spent 122,800,487 TL over the past four years on programs based on the African continent, nearly 68% of KYM’s total budget. Of this amount, 78% went towards sustainable development projects.

Hatice Avci *as of December 2013

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

YM initially served people in 18 countries from its inception in 2006, but has since expanded its services to 45 countries in Africa alone. Geographically, KYM is spread out on over 87% of the continent. Somalia is the recipient of many of our services. KYM budgeted 55,600,000 TL for Somalia alone in the past four years. Sudan is of the second highest concern followed by Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Mauritania. KYM carried out several service activities ranging from humanitarian relief in the form of food and clothing to sustainable development projects, education development, and aid specifically for children without parents. Types of aid vary depending on the needs and desires of the host country, however KYM devoted a total of 15 TL for permanent and sustainable development projects. Below, please find a comprehensive report of KYM’s activities in Africa from 2010-2013 as well as our program targets for 2014. We focus on providing conflict zones with emergency relief and healthcare services, as well as access to clean water and educational programs for vulnerable children. We also invest heavily in permanent projects such as construction of hospitals and schools referred to as ‘life complexes’. Humanitarian Relief Between 2010 and 2013, half of our aid to the African continent was in the form of food, clothing, and household goods. During this period, KYM spent 61,000,000 TL in 45 countries that was spent on food (63.67%) and clothing (23.35%). This figure dovetails with our aid budget (49.94%) for Africa. In 2014 existing relief shall continue and both the number of countries accessed and the total amount of humanitarian relief will

government in 2011. With a budget of 15 million TL, we built a life Sustainable Developcomplex consisting of a hospital, ment Projects school, dormitory, soup kitchen (Permanent Relief) and three 6-apartment buildings In the past four years KYM and in an enclosed space of 9,963 erected numerous structures such square meters. It was completed in as houses, schools, dorms, hospi- December 2013. Health services tals, orphanages and water wells are already being offered to the in 7 countries. Through perma- public at the hospital. In Ethiopia’s Harar State, KYM nent projects developed between 2010 and 2013, KYM contribut- began construction of another ed 38,557,282 TL worth of aid complex in 2012.This project cost to Africa’s people. This figure cor- a total of 11 million TL, and conresponds to 31.40% of the over- sisted of a hospital, school, dorall Africa budget for the last four mitory, soup kitchen and a closed years. 77.85% of KYM’s overall space of 8,200 square meters, is foreign permanent relief projects completed and furnishing is now budget for educational and hos- underway. Its planned opening is pital complexes was used for sus- in June 2014. The Kenyan city of Malindi, tainable development projects in the Africa Continent. With these located on the coast near Somaprojects, KYM aims to provide lia, received its own life complex instant relief as well as long term in 2012. With a budget of 10 benefits to those in need through million TL, the project consisted of a hospital, school, dormitory, sustainable development projects. soup kitchen and a closed space of Life Complexes 6,600 square meters. Furnishing is The most important of the cur- also completed except for the hosrent projects are education and pital. However, the school, dorm hospital complexes being con- and soup kitchen are fully operastructed simultaneously in 4 coun- tional. In the city of Jinja, Uganda, tries. Some of these are already completed. Help collected during construction of a similar project KYM’s campaign to aid East Af- started in 2012. With a budget of rica during the massive drought 10 million TL, the project consistof 2011 was used to construct 4 ing of a hospital, school, dorm, complexes that include a soup kitchen and a closed hospital, school, dorm space of 7,625 square KYM left and soup kitchen meters will be behind numerin Somalia- which ready for openous structures such was affected most ing by the end of as houses, schools, from the drought March 2014. dorms, hospitals, orand witnessed phanages and water resulting migraTown of wells in 7 countion. In addition, Orhaniye tries in need. KYM supplied additional aid to EthioThe end of civil pia, Uganda and Kenya. war in Darfur in Sudan While some constructions in brought peace to the region these countries are in progress oth- and subsequently to the rest of Suers are finished already. dan. In the midst of the calm, the In Somalia’s capital city of Mog- government encouraged people in adishu, KYM launched a complex refugee camps to return to their on Benader Land- a site chosen in villages. However conditions in conjunction with the Somalian the towns remained unlivable. To increase.

KYM Africa Relief between 2010 and 2013

Humanitarian Relief $ 29.172.059

Permanent Relief $ 18.346.632

Household Goods $ 3.786.925

Clothing $ 6.810.924

Food $ 18.574.210

Health $ 3.366.701

Activity $ 2.766.125

Water Well $ 1.752.235

Education $ 1.683.219

Orphan $ 595.800

Other $ 740.566

Total $ 58.431.903 Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

facilitate the return of villagers of Senci, located in Nyala- the capital of South Dafur, KYM spent a total of $327,000 for the construction of a mosque, elementary school, health center, houses, fountain and water well to aid villagers as they normalized their lives after the war. Within the framework of the project, the village became a small town and got the name of town of Orhaniye. Healthcare services

On Photo

In the past four years KYM left behind numerous structures such as houses, schools, dorms, hospitals, orphanages and water wells in 7 countries in need.

KYM considers access to healthcare services as a principle right. Therefore we intensified our healthcare services to include medical screenings and cataract surgeries carried out in different African countries over the last four years. In addition, we completed the construction of new hospitals and provided healthcare services in existing outpatient clinics. KYM offered residency training in Turkey to some of the local medical personnel to be employed in these hospitals. This training was implemented as a pilot study with 35 people in Somalia and Sudan. In 2014, KYM aims to expand studies in the field of health in coordination with the officials of the African states. We envisage a division of healthcare services into the following areas: Ambulatory Care Services, Cataract Surgeries, Residency Training to Medical Personnel, Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Diseases, and Preventative Medicine Services. AMBULATORY CARE SERVICES

Between 2010 and 2013 KYM conducted hundreds of health screenings in 7 countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Central African Republic) through 350 KYM volunteer physicians in residence and offered health services in private KYM outpatient clinics in countries like Sudan and Ethio-

pia. Moreover, the construction of health complexes in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia will soon be complete. We expect that the ambulatory care services will increase once the hospitals within the life complexes completed in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia enter into service in 2014. Number of patients treated is projected to rise. In addition, it is planned to increase the number of existing KYM outpatient clinics. In addition to these services, KYM anticipates providing support existing local hospitals, medical centers, and outpatient clinics in the countries in order to make them more beneficial to the public. Within this framework, KYMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volunteer doctors will go to these medical centers and provide onsite support alongside local physicians to better equip them to handle medical emergencies and use supplies on hand as efficiently as possible. Moreover, we plan to offer ambulatory care services to other people in more countries through medical screenings that have been carried out for years with volunteer doctors. With the implementation of mobile medical teams, it will be possible to offer on-thefield ambulatory care services in rural villages where locals have no access to health services. CATARACT SURGERIES

KYMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cataract surgeries are a special project for the African continent. One of the biggest health problems present in Africa is cataracts. It is also among the easiest to treat. KYM physicians have treated 38 million patients with cataracts who live in Africa. Since 2008, KYM performed 17,257 cataract surgeries and helped tens of thousands of eyes see the light. Cataract surgeries were performed in 7 different African countries (Sudan, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Central African

African countries receiving relief from KYM between 2010 and 2013

Tunisia

Libya Egypt

Mauritania Mali

Cape Senegal Verde Guinea Bissau Gambia

Niger

Chad

Sudan

Burkina Faso

Guinea

Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire

Sierra Leone

Nigeria Benin Togo

Ghana

Central African Republic

Somalia

South Sudan

Ethiopia

Cameroon

Liberia Equatorial Guinea

Kenya

Uganda Gabon

Democratic Republic of Congo Rwanda

Burundi Tanzania

Comoros

Angola Malawi Mozambique

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Madagascar

Namibia Mauritius

South Africa

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo). 93% of the surgeries were performed in Sudan. Cataract surgery goal for KYM is 17,000 patients in 2014 alone. We aim to bring the number of total cataract surgeries performed to 35,000 in total by the end of 2014. Residency Training to Medical Personnel

On Photo

Since 2008, KYM performed 17,257 cataracts surgeries and helped tens of thousands of eyes see the light. Over the past four years a total of 13.652 cataract surgeries were performed.

KYM aims to fill the gap for qualified personnel through providing training by experts to the local doctors and medical personnel who will become employees at KYM’s hospitals. As of writing, a total of 35 medical personnel from Somalia and Sudan were brought to Turkey by KYM and provided with long-term training in several fields by medical faculties and research hospitals of renowned universities. Similarly, KYM plans to bring a group of local personnel from Ethiopia to Turkey to work in the hospitals and to obtain relevant medical training. These training programs are aimed towards medical personnel to be employed at KYM hospitals as only the first stage. Soon, the program will be extended to the personnel of other local hospitals, outpatient clinics, and medical centers. Moreover, in order to heal Libya’s literal and emotional wounds as it recovers from a brutal civil war,KYM extended a special invitation to Libyan doctors to Turkey so that they may train at Trabzon Private Imperial Hospital. In partnership with Turkey’s elite medical staff, Libyan doctors conducted surgeries and increased their own knowledge to advance medical care in their home country. After an initial scout visit in October 2011, KYM carried out a medical mission in Libya. After a few subsequent visits, KYM dispatched a team of doctors to Benghazi to provide local medical care. During the visits in Benghazi, doctors met

with the deputy minister of health of the Libyan National Transitional Council and chief physicians of hospitals in Benghazi to ensure seamless coordination. The doctors’ team sent provided outpatient examinations and surgical intervention at Hawari Hospital and Al Jala Hospital in Benghazi and offered training at the Medical Faculty as well. In 2012, KYM brought doctors from Benghazi to medical faculties in Turkey for training in various fields of surgery. In 2014, we anticipate training 500 African medical personnel through residency programs in Turkey or other developed countries and thus offer better equipped services to their people in the medical complexes under construction in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda and employ the latest technology medical equipment. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF REGION-SPECIFIC DISEASES

KYM is taking steps towards diagnosis and treatment of diseases with unknown roots and indigenous to some African countries. We also played a key role in treating identified diseases. For example, children in South Sudan were falling into a deep sleep after eating and were unable to wake up for an extended period. The etiology and treatment for the disease were unknown. Upon the request of Sudanese Ministry of Health officials that reached KYM, two children suffering from the disease known as “sleep sickness” were brought to Turkey for examination and treatment. They fully recovered following the completion of their treatment. PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

KYM researches possible preventions for endemic diseases. For instance, insecticide was sprayed twice a day with two vehicles to fight against malaria in Somalia.

On Photo Cataract surgeries were performed in 7 different African countries. 93% of the surgeries were performed in Sudan.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

KYM’s 2010-2013 Relief in Brief

• Total of TRY 122,800,487 in relief to 45 different countries • Somalia is the largest receiver of relief with TRY 55.585.405 • Total of TRY 61,307,999 routine humanitarian relief in form of food, clothing and household goods • Total of TRY 38,557,282 in aids in 7 countries for houses, schools, dorms, hospitals, orphanages and water wells • In 4 countries; construction of huge life complexes with schools, soup kitchens and dorms • In 7 different countries medical screenings for thousands of people in 64 events with 350 volunteer doctors of KYM • 17,257 cataract surgeries • Residency training for 35 medical personnel in Turkey • In 9 countries with 435 new water wells access to clean water for nearly 500,000 people • In 9 countries embracing 5,947 orphans (through aids such as food, clothing, stationery, sheltering opportunities) • In 6 countries bestowed education complexes with a total area of 20,785 square meters to 2,610 students • Joint projects with 22 African solution partner organizations

Hundreds of people were tested for malaria afterwards. KYM is deliberating on similar projects for 2014. Concurrently, it is envisaged that mobile medical teams will be giving informative seminars to African nations regarding diseases and hygiene, thus providing preventative medical service.

opened in Ethiopia’s Harar state, began accepting patients in March 2012. Under the supervision of three volunteer doctors from Turkey, they treated an average of 90 patients daily. KYM plans to raise the number of patients accepted with each passing day and has set a target of treating 180 patients daily.

Sustainable Health Services

Ikbal Gürpınar Medical Center

Hospitals

Hospitals, which are included in the same projects with educational complexes and began treating patients in Somalia and will be operational in countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya shortly, will play a vital role in enhancing quality of life of Africans in need. Hospital projects are underway in a total of 4 countries. They have 35 beds on average; consist of 2 operating rooms, two delivery rooms, one surgery intensive care unit, one neonatal intensive care unit, 12 outpatient rooms, radiology room, and laboratory. Once they provide services, the hospitals offer treatment in the highly sought-after fields of Emergency Services, Oral and Dental Diseases, Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Eye Diseases, Internal Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, ENT, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Traumatology, and Urology on location. Outpatient Clinics

In Kenya’s Dadaab Camp where health, populated largely by Somalian refugees, health services are vital. KYM constructed a 280 square meter outpatient clinic with three exam rooms, one pharmacy, and one surgery room. In addition, doctors offered services between March 2012 and May 2013 and administered services such as medical screenings, medication distribution, and mid-level surgical interventions. KYM Medical Center, which

İkbal Gürpınar Medical Center, opened in Sudan’s Darfur state in June 2011 with a total cost of USD 100,000, consists of 12 beds, one lab, one operation room, an emergency room, and a pharmacy. The medical center provides services in the fields of pediatrics, gynecology, dental care, eye exams, and internal medicine. ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER Until the end of 2013, KYM operated its clean water project in Africa by mainly focusing on opening water wells. Under this project, in 9 countries of Africa (Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Kenya, Niger, Central African Republic, Senegal, Somalia and Sudan) we drilled water wells to meet the basic requirements of the public. Until this day, total number of KYM water wells opened and under construction in Africa has reached 592. The number of wells opened and providing access to clean water is 435. African countries with most water wells opened are in Niger (133), Chad (80) and Sudan (69). While the average number of people benefitting from construction of a water well depends on population, KYM has provided approximately 500,000 people with clean water thanks to the water wells drilled in African countries since 2011. 3,682,498 TL of the 4,861,534 TL Water Well budget used up to the present was allocated for projects in Africa. This corresponds to a rate of 75.77%. In addition, cost

of single water well drilled in Africa is an average of 6,220 TL. The budget utilized for African water wells reached 2,631,234 TL in 2013 especially. KYM intends to expand the “Water Wells” project and transform it into Clean Water Project in 2014. Four areas of activities are projected to this end: Opening Water Wells - 1000 is our current target for new water wells in 2014 Clean Water Complexes - In the clean water complexes to be realized with bigger budgets, We intend to provide access to clean water for more people by developing electricity and solar powered systems. Water Backpacks (Water Saddlebags) - Since the above two items are insufficient; KYM will distribute water backpacks-jerry cans that will make it more convenient for people because they can be carried on their backs. 2014 target is to distribute 30,000 to

40,000 of these backpacks. To bring water services by water tankers to those deprived of clean water due to distance to water resources or medical conditions. Agricultural Applications - Besides access to clean water, KYM targets that people can contribute to their own lives in terms of economics. With pilot studies to be launched in 2014, we will create usable cultivation areas and livestock raising opportunities.

On Photo

KYM intends to expand the “Water Wells” project and transform it into Clean Water Project in 2014.

ORPHANS PROJECTS In 2013 will increase aid to children without parents to encompass safety, shelter, food, clothing, health, and education support. Through the scholarships and opportunities offered for high school and college education, KYM opened the door for a bright future for orphans. In addition, KYM constructed dorms for countries in demand while undertaking the reconstruction, modifications, and furnishing of the dorms in need

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

NUMBER* OF Water wells in africa

*as of December 2013, figures into brakcets referring to water wells that are still under construction.

Kenya

C.A.R.

12 (12)

Chad

92 (12)

Cameroon

42 (3)

Niger

156 (23)

Burkina Faso

22 (3)

Senegal

51 (6)

Somalia

42 (0)

Sudan

Total:

80 (72)

95 (26)

592 (152)

of repair. KYM put a smile on orphans in nine African countries thanks to donations. 62.41% of the overall reliefs under the qualified orphans’ projects, which over the past two years were handled as a separate field of activity and have reached 2,006,220 TL, were delivered to African orphans. KYM assisted 5,947 orphans by covering their needs for food, clothing, education, and shelter. KYM, strives to provide not only aid, but through making ends meet by own production that young orphans and dependent mothers with orphan children can stand on their own feet. We launched vocational courses in countries needed. To this end, we initiated a pilot study in Sudan. KYM believes it is not enough to look after an orphan with temporary help. Once orphan kids reach the age of majority, the state’s protection or care of private institutions comes to an end. These youngsters whi continued their lives in a way parallel to the relief they received all of a sudden enter an era in their lives when they need to survive without any help. At this point, employment resources already scarce in under-developed countries also become the nightmare of the orphan youngsters. Therefore, existing relief will continue and the Orphan Projects will be expanded. With these projects, it is hoped that the orphans will become individuals contributing to their countries. Thus they will contribute to the social security and economic development of the country. Some of the projects foreseen are as follows: • Vocational courses (to be developed in more countries) • Setting up an Orphan Education Fund and extending scholarships to orphans for high school and college education in partnership with

•

private schools. Setting up the educational environment for orphans in remote villages of Africa those are otherwise unable to receive any education under normal circumstances.

EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS In recent years, education complexes are built in Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia and Niger, some are completed while others are close to completion. KYM offers an education opportunity for thousands of students. Furthermore, KYM responds to educational needs of the orphans and deprived students through the education opportunities offered. Under the educational support provided, 259 successful Somalian students gained the chance to receive education in Turkey. In addition to this support, 20 Sudanese orphans were given free education support, 56 college-level Somalian were granted full scholarships and 136 college-level Somalian orphans were provided with scholarships. KYM will add new projects to its Educational Projects in 2014. Educational grants offered to orphans or poor students will be increased in a way to cover more countries. Number of students considered to receive grants is 1,100. It is also among priorities to build 2-classroom desert schools in locations in Africa that lack any educational opportunity. POST-DISASTER AIDS KYM disaster response team ASYA, for instance, delivered TRY 250.000 worth of emergency aid materials such as food and blankets to refugees taking shelter in Mauritania after fleeing from the civil war and again in Mali in 2013. We intend to offer succor to mankind during all types of disaster across the world, more actively,

and together with its volunteers in 2014 Educational studies are planned in Turkey and in different countries of the world with an aim to raise awareness of people prior to disasters. Number people educated in disaster management in 2013 stood at 100,000 while we expect to raise this figure to 150,000 in 2014. Besides these projects, KYM will increase the training level of the 350 professional volunteer personnel of ASYA in 2014. At the same time, we foresee an enhancement in the functional feature of emergency state logistics, which plays an essential role following disasters.

nerships with several significant players. In determining the needs of the African countries and delivering these aids, KYM works in cooperation with state officials. KYM representations in these countries, solution partners, and local KYM volunteers, as they know best the needs, culture, traditions of the countries; provide the most efficient working conditions with local communities.

On Photo

KYM put a smile on orphans in 9 African countries thanks to the aids made available.

Strong Partnerships in Africa One of the most important factors in KYMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successful completion of tens of millions of TRY worth projects in the last four years is forming strong part-

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

IDME 2nd INTERNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE Held IN Istanbul IDME International Disaster Management Exhibition was held at Istanbul Exhibition centre and organized for the second time this year under the strategic partnership of KYM; Conducted with the participation of AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, Red Crescent and 18 NGOs, IDME 2nd International Disaster Management Exhibition’s main conference theme of the year was “Global Threats and Local Experience: Sustainability in Disaster Management”.

epresentatives of 18 non-governmental organizations, who were at the same location with KYM and KYM ASYA stands, provided information regarding their organizations. State-of-the-art equipment used by search and rescue teams attracted great attention. Disaster logistics companies gave information to the visitors about their products and services. KYM ASYA Search and Rescue Team Stands were among the most frequently visited. Participants demonstrated their skills on the artificial climbing wall and faced the realities of an earthquake in ASYA Mobile Earthquake Simulator. President of the Mozambique

National Disaster Management Institute, Civil Defense Minister of Brazil, and Somalia Minister of Health were amongst the visitors to the earthquake simulator. ASYA volunteers provided crucial information on life-saving techniques to the visitors regarding the procedures to follow before and after a disaster. Conferences left their mark on the 3-day exhibition. A number of foreign ministers, senior officials, academicians, and NGO representatives spoke at the conferences with theme of “Global Threats and Local Experience: Sustainability in Disaster Management”. The theme was competent authorities from all over the world, especially the NGOS need, to act together and simul-

taneously with regards to disaster management. Stating that he sees Turkey as a role model for disaster management, the Minister of Civil Defense in Brazil declared, “Search and Rescue operations are conducted by the government in our country. Now, we know about the NGO model thanks to this exhibition”. Fatima Gailani, the President of Afghanistan Red Crescent Community stated, “We are inspired by Turkey’s solid steps regarding disaster management. We are grateful to Turkish Nation and particularly to KYM for their assistance to my country.” IDME 2nd International Disaster Management Exhibition ended with the family photographs.

KYM ESTABLISHES HOSPITALS IN AFRICA KYM establishes modern hospitals to meet the necessities of the time. Within the framework of “Healthcare Project” initiated in Africa, we seek for people to survive the grip of poverty and disease. n a daily basis, hundreds of people, young and old, are dying in Africa where unhealthy living conditions due to poverty prevail. KYM has conceived a “Healthcare Project” in Africa. We are establishing hospitals one by one in Somali, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. Once the hospitals under construction are finished, services are provided in branches of Emergency, Mouth and Tooth Diseases, Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Eye Disease, Internal Diseases, Gynecology, Diseases and Delivery, Otorhinolaryngology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Traumatology, and Urology. Soon to be completed, the radiology departments of the hospitals will be available for tomog-

raphy, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Furthermore blood, urine, hormone, and pathological testing will be available in laboratories. These tests are crucial for accurate diagnosis and best treatment methodology. The local physicians and healthcare professionals to be employed in these hospitals will be provided with sufficient training. Until now, 35 healthcare professional from Somali and Sudan have been brought to Turkey by KYM and provided with long term practical training at Medical Faculties and Training Research hospitals in universities throughout Turkey. Likewise, we plan to bring a group of local personnel will be employed in a hospital in Ethiopia to Turkey in the coming months.

SOMALI

UGANDA

KENYA

ETHIOPIA

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

KYM lends a hand to victims of the mine disaster in Soma Many miners died in the worst mine disaster in the history of Turkey, which took place in a coal mine in Soma, Manisa on May 13, 2014, at 15.00. Miners who survived the disaster were treated in the nearest health institutions. he Anatolian people banded together after the disaster, which caused a major grief in Turkey. People mobilized to stand by the grieving families left behind. With the same mentality and sensitivity, Kimse Yok Mu ran to Soma in order to stand by the locals and tried to ease their pain. For those miners, who worked deep beneath the ground to earn a living for their families and lost their lives or survived,Kimse Yok Mu sent a team, situated near the region, immediately after the incident, and took part in search-rescue efforts. Kimse Yok Mu- ASYA Disaster Team’s Search and Rescue Squad served in the region, attended evacuation of the injured and deceased miners. They also performed gas measurements at tunnel outlets with their special equipment. Aside from search-rescue activities, Kimse Yok Mu volunteers provided logistics and psychological support to the families of the miners.

“We will provide educational support to orphans for 3 years” İsmail Cingöz, President of Kimse Yok Mu, stated that they were saddened by the painful disaster in Soma. Cingöz mentioned that they questioned what they could do after the disaster and added that they prayed for the miners who lost their lives. Pointing out that they went to the region after the mine disaster,

Cingöz said, “We thought about the things that we could do after this saddening event. The miners left about a thousand orphans behind. We deemed that these orphans have been entrusted to us. We will provide educational support to orphans for 3 years. We will dress our orphans in the most beautiful clothes and stand by them during the Eid-ul Ramadan and Eid-ul Adha.” Now it is time to dress the wounds Since the search-rescue activities were over, Kimse Yok Mu cared for the families of the casuaties, and used every means to help them realize their dreams. Within this context, ASYA Psycho-Social Support Team used their efforts to provide necessary support to the injured miners and families of all miners that were affected by the accident. KYM’s main goal is providing all

sorts of educational support from stationery and clothing requirements to educational scholarships to orphans and to the children of the miners who were injured in the accident. Within this framework, a support of TL 1,500 a year will be provided for each child by Kimse Yok Mu for a period of 3 years in order to meet the educational needs of 1,000 children in total. Secondly, medical, food, clothing and home goods support will be provided for the relatives of the miners. Kimse Yok Mu will stand by the miners and their relatives during Eid-ul Ramadan and Eid-ul Adha after meeting their urgent necessities by delivering clothing aid to the families left behind by the deceased miners before Eid-ul Ramadan. We aim to give meat packages to the families of each causalties during Eid-ul Adha. A “ Sister Family” for every Family In the scope of the “Sister Family” project which Kimse Yok Mu has been carrying out for a long time, philanthropic families will be declared sister families of the families of the miners in order to dress the wounds of this grave accident. Thanks to the “Sister Family” project,which helps developing consciousness on social cooperation and meeting the requirements of families-in-need on time; the families of the miners will have a sister family that will lend a hand to them whenever and wherever they need.

CALL FOR HELP FROM THE BALKANS Tens of thousands of people in the Balkans have been suffering from flooding and overflow caused by the heaviest rainfall of the last century. Struggling with the biggest flood disaster in their history, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia issued an international call for help. Kimse Yok Mu’s ASYA Urgent Aid Team began carrying out its assistance operations and continues to transport humanitarian aid materials to the region. ens of thousands of people in the Balkans have been suffering from flooding and overflow caused by the heaviest rainfall of the last century. Struggling with the biggest flood disaster in their history, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia issued an international call for help. Kimse Yok Mu’s ASYA Urgent Aid Team began carrying out its assistance operations and continues to transport humanitarian aid materials to the region. Yusuf Yıldırım, Foreign Aid Coordinator of Kimse Yok Mu, explained that the ASYA Urgent Aid Team consists of four members who have been assisting in Bosnia where 1.2 million people were affected by the flood. He said, “Following the urgent aid to flood victims who faced the biggest flood disaster in recent years, we will identify people whose houses collapsed or were damaged, and those whose furniture was destroyed completely or partially, and continue to deliver permanent aid to the region.”

Shortage of clean water in Bosnia and Herzegovina Ertuğrul Yorguner, team leader of Kimse Yok Mu’s ASYA Urgent Aid Team, said, “Flood water has started to retreat in Bosnia. We think that there is a serious hygiene problem in those regions that are hard to reach due to landslides. As a priority, we are trying to deliver aid to those regions that have not yet been reached.” Yorguner pointed out that the aid team has been delivering aid both on foot and by tractors to

the Zenica and Bistrica villages, to which the roads are blocked due to landslides. According to Yorguner, Kimse Yok Mu is presently carrying out activities in and around Magdas, which was most affected by the disaster. The houses in the region are filled with water up to the second floor and people are trying to remove the mud brought in by the flood. There is a risk of epidemic in those regions where there is a shortage of water. “We will continue to deliver water and hygienic materials to those regions,” Yorguner said. He added that materials like sugar, pasta, liquid oil, rice, canned food, hygienic materials, soap, and detergent were delivered to the regions of Bosnia that suffered damage from the disaster. Five thousand houses and fifty thousand people affected in Serbia An ASYA Urgent Aid Team con-

sisting of three members arrived in Serbia and started to distribute 25,000 dollars worth of aid to the victims of the disaster. Additionally, one humanitarian aid truck from Turkey carrying canned food, blankets, cleaning materials, and hygienic materials reached Serbia. İsmail Büyükay, leader of ASYA Urgent Aid Team, said “Ojrenovaci, a city with a population of 50,000 near Belgrade, Serbia, that faced the biggest flood disaster of the last century, has been completely evacuated. People living in the region are staying in stadiums, gymnasiums, and hotels in Belgrade. As far as we have been informed, about 7,000 people are missing.” He pointed out that urgent aid was delivered by Kimse Yok Mu to the five cities most affected by the flood. Büyükay added, “In particular, needs like food, cleaning materials, disinfectants, water, and diapers are being satisfied. The people in the region conveyed their thanks for the Turkish people who sent the aid.” Summary of Kimse Yok Mu’s aid efforts For its relief efforts in the Balkan region affected by the recent flood, Kimse Yok Mu has sent in total one truck containing humanitarian aid and 111,170 dollars to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one truck containing humanitarian aid and 68,720 dollars to Serbia. Further assistance will follow.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014

GUEST BOOK POLLY LAUWRENCE

MUSTAPHA

Member of the

SINACEUR

Colorado House of

UN Food and Agri-

Representatives

culture Central Asia Coordinator

It really is a magnificent effort that you provide children with an opportunity for education, support people in every aspect in line with their needs and requirements, and establish infrastructure facilities for sustainable support and aid.

STEVE YOUNG

Thank you for giving us the opportunity for making a statement about the collaboration and partnership with KYM. First of all, I thank the organization from the depths of my heart for helping over 100 countries around the world, for helping thousands of impoverished people and victims of disaster in Turkey, and for supporting people through their Ramadan and sacrifice holiday campaigns.

Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

It is impressive that a non-governmental organization has grown this much and engages in so many fields after the unfortunate earthquake of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;99. Your capacity to respond to disasters is great. Your growth and activities on international basis with the support of your fellow countrymen is much appreciated.

HUMBERTO VIANA FILHO Minister of Civil Defense of Brazil

PROF. DR. M. OMER TALHA Spokesman of Somalia Parliament

You are in good relations with everybody in Somalia, from the ordinary man on street to the the most prominent statesmen. Everybody knows you.

This organization is well beyond my expectations. We may benefit from non-governmental organizations even more in this field. We have seen this because there is no such work conducted in Brazil. In our pursuit for collaboration in this field, we may well have found tour answer. I hope that great collaborations will be developed between Brazil and Turkey through this organization.

T. MARIE

ABDUL

J. NANE

MALIK BALOCH

Minister of National

Chief Minister of

Education

Balochistan,

of Mali

Pakistan

I have seen the activities conducted by KYM in different countries, and I witnessed the sincerity, sensitivity, solemnity and transparency of your output on site. You deliver the aids coming from philanthropists to the people who are in very much need of them. There are exceptional people who make a difference in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kimse Yok Muâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I want to thank KYM for helping people that are in need.

The urgent and permanent aids delivered to our country by KYM after the unfortunate flood disaster strengthened the fraternity between the two countries.

ABDUL HAQ AMIRI UN Humanitarian Aid Coordinator

We are glad to witness the works conducted by KYM, and to be in contact with this organization. The capacity of the organization and their quality of work and equipment are impressive. We are looking forward to work in different countries and ease the pain in collaboration with this organization. Dr. Maryam Qaasim Minister of Health of

Somalia

MOUSTAFA ALYAGOUYT

When our country suffered from famine in 2011, KYM delivered 3 shipments of food and medication through its volunteers. I want to give my special thanks to KYM and to the Turkish Nation for supporting Somalia in times of great need. This saved lives of many people during the famine that had killed many. I think this is a magnificent organization.

Minister of Charity Foundations of Sudan

Works conducted by KYM should be appreciated. I closely follow the aids they deliver to my country. I give my special thanks to all directors and volunteers of the organization who contributed with their precious efforts.

Year 1 | Volume 1 | May-August 2014