IHH Humanitarian Relief Magazine 43

October - November - December 2010 / Issue: 43

The Qurban; sharing the blessing of worship (22)

UN must act according to the report they have produced (56)

Hand in hand for PakistanHand in hand for Pakistan

30 MILLION PAKISTANIS WAIT FORA FRIENDLY HAND

The aid ship that set out for Gaza is setting sail for Pakistan now. Initially 3,000 tons of relief supplies are delievered to the country with your support.

PAKISTANOUR ROUTEHUMANITARIAN

AID OUR LOAD

PAKISTANOUR ROUTEHUMANITARIAN

AID OUR LOAD

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF

October - November - December 2010

Issue: 43

Owner on behalf of

IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation

Atty. F. Bülent YILDIRIM

Executive Editor

=Murat YILMAZ

Editor

Amine TUNA ERTÜRK

Editorial Board

Ahmet Emin DAĞ

F. Zehra BAYRAK

H. Zehra ÖZTÜRK

Osman ATALAY

Zeliha SAĞLAM

Translation

Zenith

Design

ARTWORKS

Printing

Mavi Ofset

Tel: +90 (212) 549 25 30

Address

Büyük Karaman Caddesi

Taylasan Sokak No: 3

Fatih - ISTANBUL / TURKEY

Tel: +90 (212) 631 21 21

Fax: +90 (212) 621 70 51

[email protected]

www.ihh.org.tr

With its great number of staff and volunteers, the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation continues to spread charitable acts all around the globe. After the disastrous flood in Pakistan, IHH immediately moved to the area to launch emergency work to ensure that the living conditions of the people who had been affected by the flood be normalized; as a result, projects have been started for those who have lost their homes and jobs.

And the Qurban… This year the Qurban will be sent to 125 countries throughout the world and 61 cities in Turkey. As has been the case for many years, this year we will bring the Qurban to people who have been affected by war, natural disaster and poverty; IHH has provided these people with many projects that will allow them to work for a better future. Detailed information about the Qurban can be found in the bulletin.

In September, the United Nations (UN) published its Investigatory Report, which was prepared in connection with the attack on the flotilla that was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31, 2010 by the Israeli army. In the report it is stated that the attack, which resulted in the loss of 9 lives with more than 50 people being injured, was unjust and contrary to both humanitarian rights and international law. In the Focus section you will be able to find more details regarding the UN report.

In the bulletin you will find reports of our activities over the last 3 months, including the opening of the Cevdet Kılıçlar Operating Theater in Sudan and the Faruk Aktaş School in Tanzania, as well as many other projects in Turkey and other countries.

With the hope of bringing good things to all.

EDITORIAL

04

“Producing permanent solutions for

Pakistan”

38

Orphans are pleased by your

presents

34ACTIVITIESCharitable donations

12

Projects in Pakistan can be realized with your

assistance

16

SPOTLIGHTThe Qurban; sharing the blessing of

worship

22

AGENDA - Charity campaign for Pakistan (10) / SPOTLIGHT - IHH Qurban Organization starts (26) / In 125 countries and regions of the world (28) / From the past until today (30) / ACTIVITIES - Support for the people of Gaza continues (41) / Operations in Haiti continue (42) Emergency response in Osh and Jalalabad (42) / Equipment support for the Voice of

AGENDAHand in hand for Pakistan

67

70

48Domestic aid

44Faruk Aktaş

School is opened in Tanzania

AN ORPHAN’SSTORY

Our sacred responsibility,

Furkan

56

FOCUS UN must act

according to the report they have

produced

CULTURE A moderate resistance against missionary schools: Oral education

46

The Martyr Cevdet Kılıçlar

Operating Theater was

opened in the Sudan

Africa radio station (43) / You can follow the activities of IHH online (43) / Domestic and international support for IHH (50) / Support for the families of the martyrs (51) / Goodness flows from the heart (52) / IN THE FIELD - Kyrgyzstan under the shadow of clashes (61) / What would you do to uplift a wounded nation? (64)

Hand in hand for Pakistan4 AGENDA

Ahmet Emin Dağ

Hand in hand for Pakistan

Hand in hand for PakistanWith more than 30 million people being directly affected by the flood, now, as the water slowly recedes from the region, there is also a threat of cholera. Almost 2 million people have lost their homes and 5,000 villages have disappeared as a result of the flood.

With more than 30 million people being directly affected by the flood, now, as the water slowly recedes from the region, there is also a threat of cholera. Almost 2 million people have lost their homes and 5,000 villages have disappeared as a result of the flood.

Ahmet Emin Dağ

After the flooding rains that hit Pakistan in mid-July, 1,781 people died

and 2,966 were injured. Also as a result of the calamity, nearly half the agricultural land was damaged, with more than 300,000 cattle and sheep being lost.

The effects of the calamity that hit such a vast area pose

a serious long-term threat of famine for Pakistan.

With more than 30 million people being directly affected by the flood, now, as the water slowly recedes from the region, there is also a threat of cholera. Almost 2 million people have lost their homes and 5,000 villages have disappeared as a result of the flood.

Hand in hand for Pakistan AGENDA 5

AS A RESULT OF THE CALAMITY

1,781 people have lost their lives and 2,966 were injured.

1,894,530 houses were completely destroyed or have collapsed.

30 million people have been affected by the flood.

4,911 schools have had to be used as mass accommodation; the need for shelter is still acute for people in the region that was affected by the flood.

300,000 cattle and sheep have been lost.

3.2 million hectares of agricultural land, agricultural equipment and stock that were sheltered in barns have been destroyed. The land is in grave danger of famine. The people in the region will be in need of food for at least the following 3 months.

The infrastructure has collapsed and water wells have been contaminated; there is now a shortage of potable water.

7,820 school buildings have been destroyed or seriously damaged, and are no longer suitable for use.

As the waters have receded, the affected land in the low-lying areas and the irrigation areas has become quite hazardous for public health.

Epidemic diseases have targeted children in the affected region after the flood.

200,000 people have been reported as suffering from diarrhea, while 263,000 people have suffered skin-related problems, and 204,000 people have been affected by respiratory illnesses. The threat of epidemics is still serious in the region.

The lives of more than 1 million pregnant women and newborn babies are threatened by the disastrous environmental conditions in the region.

More than 1 million children aged under 3 are threatened by severe malnutrition.

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IHH in the disaster region

As the flood destroyed the entire drinking-water infrastructure and all the water wells in the region, there is an urgent need for restructuring the availability of clean drinking water and the provision of basic food stuffs. IHH personnel started to distribute clean water, food stuffs and hot meals immediately after the disaster hit the region. 5,000 people in the region have been provided with hot meals by IHH. In addition to canned and dried foods, IHH has also ensured that families are provided with support for their daily food needs.

IHH’s food delivery, amounting to quite a few tons, was sent from Turkey to the region.

In the emergency response more than 2.5 tons of medicine has been delivered to patients and clinics in the region. IHH’s health personnel, under the guidance of the Pakistani government, have started to survey the health situation in the region. In addition, studies have continued as to what volunteer health staff needs to be sent to the region from Turkey.

1,000 families have been sheltered in 3 schools and some other buildings, as directed by the Pakistani government; their daily needs for food, hygiene and health matters are being met by IHH.

In addition to this support, 1 million TL has been pledged to the families, ensuring that more than 1,000 families will be taken care for at least a year.

The preliminary studies of the first phase have been carried out for 100 families and buildings have begun to be constructed under the permanent-housing project for those people who


Muhammad Rafique Fazal Rabbi (45,

Charsadda district)

“I was at home with my family on July 29. We

heard an announcement that a huge tsunami was

heading towards our homes; we were warned to

move to higher ground. At around 21.30 we left

our house and settled in a mosque located high

on the mountain. The following day I managed to

go to see my house, which had been completely

destroyed by the flood. I used a tire to return to the

mosque.

I found a corpse on the way back and I brought

that with me. I spent 3 days in the mosque with

my family and some other people from my village.

After 3 days we were transferred to our relatives’

houses or to some school buildings that had

remained standing by the Pakistani army. Now I

am living with my family in a camp at Charsadda.

We are thankful to IHH for not abandoning us in

this moment of despair. Your aid has reached us

just in time.


Nazakat Bibi (29, Charsadda district)“I was with my mother in a one-room adobe house. My father died 8 years ago and my mother is very ill. Our cottage was destroyed by the floodwaters. Before the calamity I was selling simple household goods and cosmetics, traveling door to door, thus earning some money to buy a loaf of bread or two.

Now everyone is desperately in need of help and seeking shelter at the schools. I don’t know what we will do in the future. We have no father, and now no house either. My mother is ill and there is nothing I can to do to take care of her. I have no idea where we can go after we will be moved from the school in which we have been temporarily located.

have lost their homes. If climatic conditions do not impede operations, these houses will be ready for families as permanent residences in 2 months’ time.

Hundreds of blankets and ready-made garments have been delivered to the people affected by the flood from our clothing workshops that are located in the region.

Needs

- Daily food needs are to be provided for more than 20 million people who are

living under extreme conditions.

- Babies and children are to be provided with

sufficient and hygienic food, as there is still a severe risk of infection.

- As contaminated drinking water is the easiest way for epidemics to spread, people will be provided with clean potable water.

- As these flooded areas will soon be transformed into swamps, the necessary medicine and equipment must be sent in time.

- Emergency shelter will be provided for the more than 2 million people who have lost their homes after the flood. There is also a need for a great deal of construction material, so that buildings can be constructed as the flood waters recede.

- As all the agricultural land has been destroyed there is also a great need

for seeds, fertilizer and tractors in the reconstruction phase which will occur when the flood waters have receded.

IHH with permanent projects in the region

Not only has IHH acted immediately to carry out emergency tasks in the flood-hit areas, but also permanent projects have been undertaken to ensure that people in the region can return to a normal life.

The main undertaking is the construction of permanent settlements for people who have been hit by the flood and left homeless. These permanent houses can be constructed at a cost of $5,500. In the first phase 100 houses have been included in the project, while the total target is 1,000 houses.


To solve the potable-water problem, IHH has begun the construction of 10 purification plants. With the completion of these projects, 80 tons of potable water will be provided daily; new wells will also be constructed and the existing ones will be renovated.

After any flood, one of the most efficient ways to ensure a return to normal is to provide working conditions so that people can earn a living. Aid will be sent, mainly in the form of cattle, seeds and fertilizer, as the majority of the population support themselves with agriculture. Rickshaw-aid will be offered to the majority of families, as this is the main transportation vehicle in rural areas.


The Flood-Affected Regions-August 2010

CHINA

AFGHANISTAN

�SLAMABAD

PUNJAB

INDIA

SINDH

BALOCHISTAN

INDIAN OCEAN

IRAN

®

DAM

RIVER

FLOOD AREAS

MODERATELY AFFECTED DISTRICTS

SEVERELY AFFECTED DISTRICTS

Charity campaign for Pakistan 10 AGENDA

Charity campaign for Pakistan The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has continued its relief operation for the people affected by the floods in Pakistan. In addition to the emergency aid that has been sent by plane and train, a ship load of emergency aid has been sent.

The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has continued its relief

operation for the people affected by the floods in Pakistan. In addition to the emergency aid that has been sent by plane and train, a ship load of emergency aid has been sent.

Cargo plane: 34,950 kg (canned food, milk powder, formula, medicine, foodstuffs etc.) costing 607,950 TL, was sent to Pakistan on August 30, 2010.

Cargo train: 406,873 kg of textiles, boots, shoes, slippers, construction materials, prefabricated houses, cleaning materials, textile fabrics, food

and medication, costing a total of 2,875,006 TL, was sent to Pakistan on September 12, 2010.

Aid ship: A shipload of materials, prepared by volunteers from over 81 cities, will be sent to Pakistan.

In addition to these operations, IHH

personnel continue to provide hot meals for 5,000 flood victims; this

service began immediately after

the disaster.

After the flood disaster in the region, from August on, IHH has sent 5 million TL in cash and has also sent material aid to the region.

Material Unit (kg)

Construction materials 28,772 10,698

Prefabricated houses 304 64,179

Cleaning materials 10,225 125,477

Fabric 1,448 28,413

Textiles 174,597 89,516

Medication (300 box) 77,110 2,380

Boots 32,846 83,689

Shoes / slippers 55,178 66,828

Milk powder (25 kg) 640 16,000

Diaper 3,168 502

Food 72,624 125,466

Food & Medication 127,326 9,160

Biscuits 18,090 10,050

Canned food 18,940 5,902

Total 621,268 638,260

Charity campaign for Pakistan AGENDA 11

After the flood disaster in the region, from August on, IHH has sent 5 million TL in cash and has also sent material aid to

the region.

Aid material sent to the region

“Producing permanent solutions for Pakistan”

IHH has been working without cessation to heal the wounds of the Pakistani flood victims. The

emergency response that immediately followed the tremor included a cargo train carrying 407 tons of milk powder, baby food, canned food and medications. IHH has also sent a ship with 3,000 tons of aid materials.

IHH Executive Board Member Yavuz Dede shared his impressions about the tragedy that was experienced in the region after the disaster.

What are your impressions after having visited the region immediately after the flood in Pakistan?

Pakistan is in general a poor country. A small proportion of the population has good or high standards of living. Most of the population earns their living through agriculture or livestock. As the region that was affected by the flood consists mostly of agricultural areas, the next few years will be tough ones for the Pakistani people. The flood came,

houses were destroyed, and nothing was left on the land. After this people will have great difficulties in finding food, and drinking water resources have been contaminated.

When we arrived in Pakistan the waters were receding, but there was still mud and debris everywhere. Most of the people had been sent to relatively safe places in the camps that had been set up. This is the only place that most people can stay now. When the water has completely receded many will be

Interview: Yaşar Yeşil

“Producing permanent solutions for Pakistan” 12 AGENDA

“Producing permanent solutions for Pakistan” AGENDA 13

able to return to their homes, but there will be nothing to support them. They have lost their houses, agricultural lands, livestock, and food source; in short, they have lost everything.

Food is the first urgent need in Pakistan. In particular, there is a

need for milk powder and baby food for children. The problem of meeting the people’s need for food and water must be solved immediately. We were there on the second and third days of Ramadan; at this time the first cholera cases had already emerged.

Cholera swiftly spreads through areas where there is no clean water. Following cases of cholera some children have died. The treatment for cholera, which uses only basic medications, costs no more than 5 TL. However, these medications are not available in Pakistan. It is very difficult to move people to other places to treat them in hospitals in the flood-hit areas. As most of the hospitals have also been badly affected by the flood, treating cholera is very difficult.

Why has the flood caused such trauma? There have been such a great loss of life; do you think that the necessary precautions were not taken?

Some areas of the country could not be informed of the imminent flood due to problems with the infrastructure. An enormous wall of water hit these areas,

while other areas were hit by four times, or even ten times, the amount of water, a result of the heavy monsoon rains that were well over the norm.

Could you tell us about the operations of IHH in the area?

The flood struck the northern part of the country. We started to distribute aid in this region 3-4 days after the flood. We were able to utilize our experience from the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. We set up a soup kitchen to provide hot meal for people. We distributed clothes, which had been made in our local workshops, set up in the region to teach people a trade. We delivered these products to the people affected by the flood. Production continues in the region. We have distributed foodstuffs and clean water and we have expanded this distribution to different locations. This is only a first step. There is a great need for many other projects in the region.

Could you give us more information on the scope of the disaster?

Frankly, I am not sure if there has ever been such a disaster anywhere in the world. There was the Nergis tornado in Myanmar and the Sidr Hurricane in Bangladesh, but this

is something unique. There will be enormous side effects in the next few years. Settlements, wells, agricultural lands and livestock have all been badly affected. That is why aid should be sent in greater amounts. The amount has to exceed that sent after the 2005 earthquake. We are giving zakaat and sadaka as charity, but we actually should be giving twice or three times the amount of zakaat and sadaka.

The Pakistani government will not be able to recover from such a disaster on its own. If there is not adequate aid, the victims of the flood will die from epidemic illnesses; in particular, the children are at risk... In short, if we can send more aid to the region more lives will be saved.

Another important point here is that the disaster could lead to civil unrest in the region. The country is one that normally has a very complicated domestic situation. Add to this complex structure a lack of basic human needs, and the result will be more severe unrest in the region.

It is obvious that when there is a major disaster aid should

be consistent; in this regard is it possible for IHH to ensure continuity of support to the region?

Insh’Allah. The support of people can help us to achieve this aim. Our target is to help as many people who are in need as possible. We have begun our plans accordingly. 28 carriages full of 450 tons of humanitarian aid, including milk powder and baby formula, and a cargo plane full of preserved food and medications have reached the region. In the near future Gazze I, a ship which was part of the Gaza flotilla, will bring 3,000 tons of aid to the region. The current situation means that Pakistan will be in need of support for at least another year. We are developing projects that will help people to regain their livelihoods. Examples of these are projects to train people in a trade and create housing for the homeless. These are the urgent ones.

Are you targeting more permanent solutions?

There are three phases to be followed in disaster aid. The first is an emergency response that helps people to survive, including rescue operations and providing shelter, food, water and medical supplies. The second phase

“Producing permanent solutions for Pakistan”14 AGENDA

is project development, mid-range projects, for victims, so that they can normalize their lives.

The third phase includes long-term projects that provide permanent solutions to help people establish a livelihood.

We have to go through these phases in Pakistan. As a result, we have to wait for the flood waters to recede and for life to continue. There are people in need of houses and work, as well as seeds to grow crops. Hospitals and schools have to be rebuilt.

How does IHH operate in the region?

At the present time there are three representatives who have established a foundation, four health workers and five volunteers, making a total of 12 people operating in the region. A team of health workers, consisting of eight people, is en route to the region. There is a great need for health workers there. You can send food and milk powder, and you can help the people there, but to treat the patients it is essential that we have doctors, in particular doctors specializing in internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics.

Our target in this matter is to set up a team of health workers who can stay at least 15 days in the region. We will provide all the logistics. We can send in new teams when the others have to return home.

Do you think that there is adequate aid for Pakistan?

As you may know, we are operating in 120 different countries throughout the world. After the disaster in Pakistan we reached out to our partners with

whom we are operating in the region to support us by sending doctors and health staff. In this way we are trying to increase the volume of aid to the region. Doctors are coming from Indonesia, and some aid is coming from Australia, with doctors coming from England.

There is not enough publicity in the world media to inform people about the flood. Even in Turkey, it wasn’t until after the fifteenth day of Ramadan when the Prime Minister made a statement on this matter that action began to be seen.

Why is this the case?

One reason could be that every country has its own agenda. Another reason could be that the Pakistani government failed to provide enough information about the disaster. Sad but true, they have failed to publicize the situation. They should have immediately called for help from the world. For example, aid came from all around the world for the Haitian earthquake; although the case was more acute in Pakistan, the response was not the same, due to Pakistan’s failure to make the tragedy public to the world.

What would you like to say in summation?

When our neighbors are in need we cannot sleep well. This is a maxim uttered by Prophet Muhammad, emphasizing that we must be united. We should not forget this. Whatever we offer in aid we should try to double or triple it. The situation for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan is unbearable. It can be improved with our support and our aid. We should not feel safe and secure in our conscience if we abandon those people to cope with this tragedy by themselves.

“Producing permanent solutions for Pakistan” AGENDA 15

16 FUTURE PROJECTS IN BRIEF

IHH has been working without cessation to provide help for the people who have been affected by the flood in Pakistan. As the flood waters recede, the foundation has established many projects in the villages so that lives can start to return to normal. These projects can be realized with your valuable support.

Note: You can donate however much you wish to support the projects listed above.

FUTURE PROJECTS IN BRIEF 17

Projects in Pakistan can be realized with your assistanceIHH will construct houses for the Pakistani flood victims: 1,894,530 houses were destroyed or made uninhabitable during this disaster. According to the amount collected, it is planned that villages of 30, 50 or 100 houses will be created. The villages will be named after the

major donors.

Some of the projects that

are planned:

a) Construction

Houses (which have already

been started)

Schools

Health points

b) Housing materials

Kitchen utensils

Home furnishings

Cleaning materials

c) Six months worth

of food packages

d) Livestock

Bulls

Cattle

Goats and sheep

e) Seeds and fertilizer

f) Water purification plants

g) Motor-taxis (rickshaws)

IHH will construct houses for the Pakistani flood victims:

1,894,530 houses were destroyed or made uninhabitable during this disaster. According to the amount collected, it is planned that villages of 30, 50 or 100 houses will be created. The villages will be named after the major donors.

At the moment we have established the foundations for 100

houses in three different areas of the region; the houses measure 55 square meters, with two rooms, one kitchen and a bathroom/toilet. As soon as the houses have been completed the necessary furniture and equipment will also provided by IHH with the donations gathered for the region. The cost of one house with all its furniture is $5,500. Our target is to create 1,000 houses.

Permanent village project

Livestock project

The flood was a great disaster for Pakistan, as its economy is based on agriculture and

livestock breeding. IHH has started

a project for the people of this region where the land was almost completely destroyed and has been made unsuitable for farming. The

projects aim to provide cattle and livestock so that lives can return to normal. The cost of cattle in this project is $1,000 and $275 for goats.


Motor-taxis (rickshaw)

Motor-taxis (rickshaw) are the normal modes of transport in rural areas in Pakistan; the existence of one such

vehicle can generate a substantial income for a family. The cost of one rickshaw is $1,300.

Seed and fertilizer donations

Farmers have been gravely affected by the disaster created by the flood as most of the land is now unsuitable for cultivation. We are planning to donate

seeds and fertilizer so that the area can once again turn to agriculture. Farmers will be free to select one out of four types of seed (kidney beans, wheat, lentil, or oil-producing seeds – sunflower, soya, sesame, peanut etc.), and will be given enough to seed one acre of land. The cost of the seed and fertilizer is $100.

Water purification plants

People are now experiencing difficulties in using the water-wells that were destroyed throughout the region in the flood. IHH is planning to set up two water

purification bases to provide clean water for the region, which was badly affected by disaster. One unit can purify up to 8 tons of water daily and the cost of this equipment is $ 5,570. The cost of another piece of equipment that has the capacity to purify 100 tons of water daily is $ 4,200. There is also a need for a solar system to produce energy, which costs $16,000.


In Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in Africa, agriculture and husbandry are

carried out at primitive levels. In 2007 IHH purchased 40 acres in the agricultural district of

Seba, 40 km from the capital of Ouagadougou. The money that can be raised from modern techniques of cultivation will be donated to the orphans and needy people of the region. With

this project, modern agricultural techniques will be taught to people with applied methods so that they can earn their living without being dependent on others. The total cost of the project is 25,850.

Applied agriculture project in Burkina Faso

Applied agriculture project in Burkina Faso


Ten of thousands of Arakanese refugees have ended up in Bangladesh after fleeing from

the military coup in Burma; at the

present time these refugees have no political rights or status. They are kept in camps, and as they do not have work permits they cannot earn a living or make use of facilities like hospitals, schools, or orphanages. IHH is planning to build an orphanage for Arakanese children who are at present living in unsanitary conditions in the camps. The foundations for the orphanage will measure 350 square meters, with 4 sleeping quarters, one staffroom, a depot, a bathroom and a toilet, as well as a kitchen and serving units. There will also be clean water storage. The cost for this project is $80,000.

Orphanages in Bangladesh Arakan Refugee Camp


The Qurban; sharing the blessing of worship 22 SPOTLIGHT

The Qurban; sharing the blessing of worship We have opened the door onto new worlds. Feeling the need of those waiting in hope, we have given whatever we can and tried to bring it to where it has most been needed. We utter a prayer with the Qurban and Allah transforms our efforts into healthier lives and great benefits.

Zeliha Sağlam

The Qurban; sharing the blessing of worship SPOTLIGHT 23

We have taken a step forward with the Qurban...

With your generous donations in 2010 the Qurban organization will help those in need in 125 different countries around the world and 61 cities in Turkey. We first carried out the Qurban in 1993 with a handful of donators, working hand in hand. Starting in just one country, we increased the number to 10, then 40,

60, 100, until we have now reached 125 countries. We have opened the door onto new worlds. Feeling the need of those waiting in hope, we have given whatever we can and tried to bring it to where it has most been needed. We utter a prayer with the Qurban and Allah transforms our efforts into healthier lives and great benefits.

We have reached refugees in war zones and crises zones. In the refugee camps

we have provided hot meals with the Qurban. We teach the inmates of these camps how to earn a living. We develop new projects for them, giving them hopes for the future while they are far from their homelands.

We go to where poverty is greatest. We inform families, relatives and neighbors of the plights of our brothers who are living in far-away lands. We are the bridge for aid and

the language of the letter sent to lands that we have never been to or seen before. Every Eid you have sent your best wishes to the poor and needy. Our doors have never closed and we continue down the path, going from one land to another...

We have witnessed wars and crises that leave behind poverty and orphans. We have witnessed the radiant face of children... children growing without games, confusing nightmares with reality… we hug them so that they too can go to school,

realize their dreams, and are never alone or unhappy… We stretch out our hands to our future; the future of the world. Supporting them is a form of prayer. Our story that started with the Qurban has left a smile on the face of thousands of orphans living in Asia, Latin America and many other countries in the world.

We hope that every Eid will be their celebration and we pray that our gifts reach orphans wherever they are.

Once again this year we experience

the joy of reaching, sharing and coming close to those in need. We will continue to bring to you the happy images from the lands we have reached. New smiling faces... we will erase the despair on the faces by praying and we will increase the number of happy faces…

We continue to share for a better future…

It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah. It is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made

The Qurban; sharing the blessing of worship24 SPOTLIGHT

The Qurban; sharing the blessing of worship SPOTLIGHT 25

them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right. (Hacc 22; 36, 37)

IHH’s story started with the Qurban …

The story of good people stretching out their hands since 1992...The story of those who strive for a consciousness of universal brotherhood... The story of those who are eager to lessen the pain of people in different parts of the world with the Qurban... This is the transformation of the Qurban prayer into a universal language! This is the result of the prayer, of giving from what we have, from what we love most…Giving from deep in the heart, with no expectations… This is the story of reaching not just one but thousands of needy people!This is the story of standing hand in hand; me, you, neighbors and friends!5 continent and 120 countries… thousands of brotherly hands...So many stories have been produced in 120 countries. The story of a water-well in one country, an orphanage in another and cataract surgery in others... A story that started with the Qurban – a story in which we move closer to Allah by being together with our brothers and sisters, working for justice... Thank you for your generosity in helping us to write stories of universal brotherhood and to grow stronger with every passing day. With the prayer that we may be together for many more Eids!We pray that Allah will accept the Qurban with the sincerity that it has been donated: Eid al Mubarak!

Dear volunteers, we thank you, to be taken a place in the same relief story with us. Wish you all happy Eid, may Allah be pleased with your Qurbani worship.

IHH Qurban Organization starts

IHH Qurban Organization starts26 SPOTLIGHT

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Donors who wish to send Qurban contributions to IHH can do so in any of the following ways:

- By coming in person to our facilities

- By contributing directly to IHH bank accounts

- By postal check

- By donating online

- By making a telephone donation

An SMS message will

be sent to the donors informing

them that the task has been

completed.

Dear Mehmet Sönmez, the Qurban that you have donated has been sacrificed.May Allah be pleased with this.

IHH

IHH Qurban Organization starts SPOTLIGHT 27

2

3

4

Animals to be sacrificed for the Qurban are purchased by IHH staff in the country

in which the meat will be distributed, in keeping with the relevant religious

procedures.

The meat of the Qurban sacrifice will be distributed in

person to those in need.

The animals are sacrificed and the prayers are

offered in keeping with Islamic rules and procedures.

In 125 countries and regions of the world28 SPOTLIGHT

In 125 countries and regions of the world

EAST EUROPE AND BALKANS

Belize BoliviaBrazilChileColombia Costa Rica CubaEcuador

Guatemala Haiti HondurasNicaragua PeruSurinamVenezuela

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

CAUCASUS

Albania Bosnia Herzegovina BulgariaHungaryKosovaMacedoniaMontenegro

PolondPreshevaRomaniaSandzakSerbiaVojvodinaWestern Thrace

AbhaziaAdygea Shapsıg AhiskaAjariaAzerbaijanChechenia

CrimeaDaghestanGeorgiaIngushetiaKabardino-BalkarKarachai CherkessiaOsetia

In 125 countries and regions of the world SPOTLIGHT 29

AlgeriaBotswanaBurkina FasoCameroonChadComor IslandsDemocratic Republic of CongoDjiboutiEgyptEritreaEthiopia Ivory CoastGhanaGuineaKenyaLesothoLiberia

MadagascarMalawiMaliMoritaniaMoroccoMozambique NigerNigeriaOgadenRepublic of South AfricaRwandaSenegalSierra Leone

SomaliaSudanSwazilandTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe

AFRICA

CENTRAL ASIA

MIDDLE EAST

IN 61 PROVINCES OF TURKEY

AdanaAdapazarıAdıyamanAğrıAnkaraAntalyaAydınBartınBatmanTekirdağBingölBitlisBursaÇankırıAksarayAmasyaBalıkesirBoluBurdur ÇorumDenizli

DiyarbakırDüzceElazığErzincanErzurumGaziantepGümüşhaneHakkari HatayIspartaİstanbulİzmirK.MaraşKarsKayseriKırklareliKilisKocaeliKonyaKütahyaMalatya

MersinMuşNevşehirNiğdeOsmaniye RizeSamsunSiirtSivasŞırnakTokatTrabzonTunceliUrfaUşakVan YalovaYozgatZonguldak

SOUTH ASIAArakan BangladeshCambodia India

Keshmir MoroMyanmar Nepal

Pakistan PataniSri Lanka Tailand Vietnam

SOUTHEAST ASIAAcehEast Timor Indonesia

Moro Papua New GuineuPhilippines

CyprusIraqIranJordan Lebanon

PalestineSyria TurkeyYemen

Afghanistan Altays Bashkortostan Chelyabinsk China East Turkestan Kamchatka

Kazakhstan KyrgyzstanMongolia Uzbekhistan Russia Siberia Tajikistan

Tatarstan Turkmenistan Ural

1994 - Bosnia-Herzegovina

“In the midst of Europe a Muslim country and its people have been forced to abandon their homeland and have been slaughtered solely for being Muslims... We are with them this Qurban and we will be together with them in the following Qurbans as well.”

1995 - Kashmir

“IHH team has come to a city of tents that has existed for almost half a century. Houses, schools, hospitals, nearly everything consist of old, torn tents. The Muslims coming from Turkey after such a

long absence and their gifts from the Qurban have made the people of Kashmir, a people long forgotten, happy once again.”

1996 - Arakan

“You have to walk for six hours straight on paths full of potholes and obstacles, through rain forests that do not give way to the charitable travelers bringing the Qurban to distribute.”

1997 - Lebanon

“Shelters built of tin, measuring one square meter. The villagers

embrace the IHH team. The Qurban animals are slaughtered. And then they tell us, “There is another village”. The Kuveysra village, a bit to the north. People have never received aid there. A village with 300 houses, but not one person who can afford to make the Qurban sacrifice.”

1998 - Sudan

“On the morning of the Qurban Eid we visit camps located in the southern part of the country; there are refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia and Uganda. Thinking that we have brought a gift to their

From the past until today “IHH team has come to a city of tents that has existed for almost half a century. Houses, schools, hospitals, nearly everything consist of old, torn tents. The Muslims coming from Turkey after such a long absence and their gifts from the Qurban have made the people of Kashmir, a people long forgotten, happy once again.”

From the past until today 30 SPOTLIGHT

doors, in fact, the real gift has been brought to our doors... We are moving on a path deep inside us...”

1999 - Kosova

“The IHH team is welcomed by a children chorus singing the UCK anthem. The refugees have been forced to emigrate from their homelands, and at the time of the Qurban Eid live in Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sandzak; they share the common joy of the Qurban with IHH.”

2000 - Ethiopia

“2000 has been a tough year for the Ethiopian people. 12 million people have had to leave their homes, without even shoes on their feet, due to shortage and famine. Thousands of women, children and elderly have died in this migration. The poorest people in the world have long been waiting IHH’s Qurban. When the time arrived, the Qurban animals were slaughtered while the name of Allah was recited. In the following days IHH will open 20 water-wells in

Ethiopia. This is a reflection of the mercy and grace of the Qurban.”

2001 - Mozambique

“The IHH team arrives at a village in which some of the inhabitants are Christian; they bring with them the Qurban presents from Muslims in the distant land of Anatolia. This is the first time in their lives they have ever heard of a place called Turkey. 15 people converted to Islam immediately after the IHH representative’s

speech; the youngest was 6 year-old Mohammed. His parents are Christian. Yet, they invite us to return to their homeland.”

2002 - Argentina

“People are crying with happiness. ‘Not that they are going to be fed. But rather in thanks that humanity and God has prevailed.’ 159 Qurban is by no means enough for all of Argentina, which is suffering serious economic problems; yet the people are overjoyed at the offerings.”

2003 - Azerbaijan

“It is snowing. We are put up by families in a house that is made of plastic, not bricks; even the doors and windows are plastic. However, everyone is smiling. It is impossible not to see the contentment at being remembered reflected on their faces.”

2004 - Chechnya

“There are so many refugee camps in Ingushetia, both legal

and illegal. Even the authorities have no clear idea about the number of camps. We set up three different points to sacrifice the animals; one at Nazran, one at Karabulak and one in Mayskaye.

From the past until today SPOTLIGHT 31

We made a list of the families who are to be given the meat, families living under severe conditions in these camps. We talked to the refugees in the camps and completed the distribution. The following day we reached some other camps that have limited UN support.”

2005 - Malawi

“This is an orphanage measuring 30 square meters with 17 girls and 18 boys; their families have died from AIDS or are unable to take care of their children due to poverty. Education, eating, accommodation and all other necessities have been taken care of in this place. We give them their share of IHH’s Qurban.”

2006 - Mongolia

“There are two traditional Kazakh tents set up next to the mosque. All through the Qurban Eid visitors and needy people are given meat and soup. Both the rich and poor pray for blessings. We started to visit the

houses of the needy. We cannot put into words the joys and the cheers of people, saying “our ancestors have come” when they learned that we came from Turkey.”

2007 - East Turkistan

“How can you write about the Qurban in a country where it is banned…We slaughter

Qurban animals secretly in East Turkistan. Against all this oppression Muslim people still manage to perform the Qurban. Maybe they are no different in how they practice their beliefs from the rest of the world, but surely they get more reward for carrying out this form of worship under such conditions.”

2008 - Iraq

“Iraq has experienced one of the greatest tragedies, despite the fact that it has the world’s second largest oil reserves. The country has been dragged back 100 years and now is trying to lick its wounds. We could only enter the mosque after a thorough examination by

armed volunteers. Such gathering places are at risk from suicide bombers. We slaughtered our Qurbans. As we distribute the meat we have great sympathy for the ladies and children who cover their faces in shame at their plight.”

2009 - Sandzak

“We have completed the distributions of the Qurban. We moved

to Prizren to join the team in Kosova. While we were passing by Kosova, the place of the wars, we commemorated our ancestors and recited Fatiha for their blessed souls. When we have “Orphan Fort” in the Sar Mountains it was 23:00. There is a sharp cold outside. We entered the “Orphan Fort”, the income of which supports orphans. There is hot stove burning inside.”

From the past until today 32 SPOTLIGHT

ACTIVITIES

34 ARAŞTIRMA Social aidACTIVITIES

Charitable donationsFood packages were distributed in Turkey to 25,500 families in 60 different cities and 35,000 people in different countries abroad during Ramadan. Such aid temporarily provides the basic food needs of these families.

ARAŞTIR-MA 35ACTIVITIESSocial aid

We are your representative for the blessings during Ramadan

IHH is happy to carry the blessings of Ramadan and its spiritual atmosphere to 61 different countries in the world and 60 cities Turkey. With its motto of “together the world becomes better”, IHH brings the charitable donations of the Turkish people, their zakat, sadaka and donations, to thousands of orphans, needy and poor people living under conditions of war, occupation and natural disaster. Iftar tables were set up in different parts of world. In Turkey mobile hot soup kitchen operated during Ramadan. In 25 cities new clothes were provided and support for education and accommodation was given to thousands of needy children. While helping out our needy brothers and sisters in Turkey,

IHH continues to create projects in the regions in which it operates. Our aim is to spread love and brotherhood among people of the 5 continents.

Food packages made 60,500 families happy

Food packages were distributed in Turkey to 25,500 families in 60 different cities and 35,000 people in different countries abroad during Ramadan. Such aid temporarily provides the basic food needs of these families.

We fed 100,000 people hot meals

IHH teams inhaled the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan along with

the orphans and the needy who come as our guests of honor. Both here and abroad 100,000 people shared Iftar with us and prayed for the benefactors.

The mobile soup kitchen served 45,000 people in 25 different cities

By moving all around Turkey our mobile soup kitchen served 45,000

people in 25 different cities. Our teams were met with joy by the needy and orphans and blessings were all around the table.

Eid presents for 15,000 orphans

As it does every year, this year IHH made orphans in 28 different countries its priority, providing almost 10,000 orphans with clothes and stationery. In

Turkey, 3,000 orphans in 18 cities were given clothes and 2,000 orphans were provided with stationery materials.

Fitr and zakat given to the needy

Turkish charitable donations were given to refugees and the needy both in Turkey and abroad as part of the 2010 Ramadan projects. A total of 1,000 families from Turkey, East Turkistan, Iraq, Ahiska and Africa were given 250 TL per family as the fitr. 750,000 TL zakat was given to families in Pakistan, Palestine and Afghanistan, countries suffering war, floods and economic crises.

Our prayer is for Pakistan

IHH tried to heal the wounds of the Pakistani flood victims by distributing emergency aid during the first days of Ramadan. Generous Turkish citizens reserved a great share of their charitable donations for their sister country Pakistan.

36 Social aidACTIVITIES

First our orphans

Clothes, school bags and stationery sets were presented to orphans during iftar meals and cash support for families, provided by donations from our volunteers, enabled us to reach out to those in need, both at home and abroad.

Sharing with refugees

We shared the blessings of Ramadan with our refugee brothers

and sisters in different parts of the world. We supported the families living in war and occupied zones, as well as those stricken by natural disasters, with the donations given by charitable people.

The prays of the elderly

Last Ramadan we visited the elderly who live by themselves. With these visits we wanted to ease their loneliness a bit and try to support some of their needs.

People in need abroad are as close as our neighbors

We have worked to utilize the blessings of Ramadan in the optimum way, spreading them among those in needs. We have reached tens of thousands of families, providing them with food packages, cash aid and iftars.

Ramadan altogether


During the Ramadan Eid IHH delivered clothing to 7,534 orphans who have been affected by wars, natural disasters and poverty in 28

countries and districts. The sponsor family project has been operating since 2007. 2,000 orphans in 13 countries and districts have been given stationery materials. Orphans in Turkey are also given support, while in 18 cities 3,000 orphans get clothing and 2,000 orphans receive stationary.

Rehabilitation studies

IHH aims to help children grow into healthy, educated and socially responsible citizens; relevant studies have been carried out in accordance with this. 95 orphans and their families were helped to visit Çanakkale. Visitors have gone to the war cemetery and some other historical places in the city.

Our volunteers in Bursa organized a picnic in the Bursa Atatürk Kent Forest for orphans and their families. These children also receive regular cash and material aid. The children played games like tug-of-war, egg races, sack races, etc. and then they were given their presents. Ophthalmologists also checked the children’s eyesight.

Summer activities

In different cities of Turkey summer activities were planned for orphans. 100 orphans in Ağrı participated in these events. After the event a ceremony was organized for the children and they were given clothing.

Iftar programs and orphans from Gaza visit Turkey

20 orphans from Gaza were invited to Turkey as part of IHH’s summer programs. Tours were organized in Istanbul and Ankara for our young visitors. After visiting historical and tourist places the children were given iftar in the evening with donor sponsor families.

IHH Ankara volunteers provided clothing for the children who came from Gaza. Along with the orphans from Gaza, orphans from Somalia and Afghanistan and 140 orphans from Ankara meet in the evening for an iftar. In the event “Make 100 Orphans Happy” children were given clothing.

IHH Bursa volunteers met children during an iftar and 125 orphans were given Eid clothing and stationery.

Orphans are pleased by your presents



IHH has continued its health care, education, and social aid projects in Gaza for the past three months.

Within the scope of these projects, a program was organized in Gaza to teach mushroom farming to families in need. The project, which was brought to life by the contributions collected through the activities of the IHH volunteer ladies of Elazığ, captured great attention. While the first phase of the program was theoretical education, the second phase of the program was implemented in the form of practical application. A total of 33 families benefited from the project.

Materials were provided to the families that participated in the project to raise mushrooms.

In addition, IHH continued to financially support the Khan Yunis Women’s Education Center, the Tel el-Hava Women’s Education Center, the Tel el-Hava Computer and Cultural Center, and the Refah Women’s Education Center.

In another project that was implemented in Gaza, Palestinian widows and women in made and sold pastries in order to provide for their

households. The 2,160 women who particpated learned different pastry and cooking techniques under the scope of the project; they were thus able to contribute to the income of their families.

We carried out intensive assistance activities during the previous Ramadan in Gaza, just as we have done in every other Ramadan. We made our Gazzan brothers and sisters smile with provisions, and by serving hot meals to people in need as well as giving Eid clothing to orphans.

Support for the People of Gaza Continues


As earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, in January with a magnitude

of 7.0, leaving approximately 1 million people homeless; there is threat of famine and the spread of illness.

IHH is one of the humanitarian aid organizations to reach the region after the earthquake hit Haiti. In the immediate aftermath IHH made emergency health and food donations, and later concentrated in on helping orphans by supplying 1,900 people, 700 of whom were

orphans, with hot meals three times a day for three months. 52 Haitian orphans were supported by Turkish donors under the sponsor family project. The school that was built

after the quake by IHH now helps 300 students to continue their education.

A second team was sent to the region in Ramadan and 500 families were given food packages and iftar in five different mosques in the capital city Port-au-Prince. 139 Haitian orphans were given clothing and food was provided for 3 orphanages,

housing a total of 150 orphans.

IHH continues its work after the Qurban Eid.

Operations in Haiti continue

ARAŞTIR-MA 41ACTIVITIESEmergency aid

42 ARAŞTIRMA Emergency aidACTIVITIES

There have been ethnic clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbek populations in the cities of Osh and Jalalabad in Kyrgysztan,

resulting in the burning down of many Uzbek houses and forcing tens of thousands of people to move to border regions.

IHH has sent two doctors and two emergency response personnel to the district with food supplies for 1,000 families, while 191 orphans have been given clothing, blankets and medication.

Emergency response in Osh and Jalalabad

As in today’s world information and communication tools have become increasingly important, IHH is now involved in social media.We have established an internet portal in order to inform the public and our

donors about our activities in a fast and effective way. Now you can easily learn about our activities in more than 120 countries around the world and see our

updates, photos and videos. You can now make use of our social media tools to see the smiling face of an orphan, witness the excitement of someone who can see the world again after cataract surgery, or share the joy that a repaired water-well brings people.• http://facebook.com/ihhtr• http://twitter.com/ihhinsaniyardim

• http://flickr.com/photos/ihhinsaniyardimvakfi/• www.ihh.org.tr

You can follow the activities of IHH online

Almost one million people died during the one hundred-day civil war in Rwanda in 1994. Rwanda

is still dealing with the trauma caused by the genocide and economic problems. The Muslim population which served as a security barrier-by refusing to hand over those who had sought refuge with

them to the bloody enemy during the 1994-96 war when the Hutu killed the Tutsi-has increased by almost three times in the aftermath of the genocide.

The population of Rwanda is more than 10 million people, approximately 15% of which is Muslim. The Voice of

Africa radio station is the only media organ serving the Muslim community in the country. As part of its cultural aid program, IHH has provided equipment support for the radio station, which broadcasts from the capital city Kigali. IHH continues to work on other social and cultural aid projects in the region.

Equipment support for the Voice of Africa radio station

ARAŞTIR-MA 43ACTIVITIESCultural aid

44 Educational support ACTIVITIES

Faruk Aktaş School is opened in TanzaniaThe name of Faruk Aktaş, Coordinator of Asia Desk of IHH, who lost his life in a plane crash, was given to a school teaching 150 students in Zanzibar.

ARAŞTIR-MA 45ACTIVITIESEducational support

The name of Faruk Aktaş, Coordinator of Asia Desk of IHH, who lost his life in a

plane crash, was given to a school teaching 150 students in Zanzibar.

Tanzania is one of the countries in which IHH operates. While the Muslim population is 35% throughout the country, in Zanzibar it is 99 %. However, the

Muslim populations’ interaction with educational and religious affairs is inadequate due to poverty and a lack of government support.

IHH has carried out many operations in the region. Last August a new complex, with a school and mosque, was opened in Zanzibar. The complex was

opened up by the Deputy Chief Minister of Zanzibar, Ali Juma Shamhuna and it was named after IHH’s East Asian specialist, Faruk Aktas, who lost his life in a plane crash. 150 students will be instructed at the school where Arabic, English and computer courses will also be given.

46 Health aidACTIVITIES

The Martyr Cevdet Kılıçlar Operating Theater was opened in SudanIn 2007, IHH set up the first eye-surgery operating room in the Abdul Fadil Elmas Educational and Research Hospital, which is the oldest ophthalmology hospital in Sudan. Since it opened, 21,590 eye surgeries have been performed.

A second eye surgery operating room was opened to serve the community. Nileyn University,

the Sudanese Foundation for Fighting Blindness and IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation jointly established an ophthalmology unit and operating theater. This was named after Cevdet Kılıçlar, who was martyred on the Mavi Marmara. The center will serve approximately 5,000 people a year free of charge.

In 2007, IHH set up the first eye-surgery operating room in the Abdul Fadil Elmas Educational and Research Hospital, which is the oldest ophthalmology hospital in Sudan. Since it opened, 21,590 eye surgeries have been performed. Eye surgeons and health care personnel from Turkey have volunteered on this project and trained Sudanese eye surgeons in how to perform cataract surgery. Another eye unit was set up in the Ophthalmology Department at Nileyn University, where cataract

and other eye-related surgeries will be performed in addition to eye examinations. In cooperation with

Nileyn University, university students will also be educated in the Cevdet Kılıçlar Operating Theather.

Cataract Surgery continues in Ethiopia

As part of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation’s Africa Cataract Project, 1,000 people have had eye examinations and 210 people have had eye surgery in the Mekele region

of the Tigray province of Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, there are 500,000 cataract patients, but only 200

ophthalmologists. Since 2007, 4,010 eye surgeries have been performed with the help of IHH in cooperation with TIKA (Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency). IHH’s Africa Cataract Project hopes to bring light to 10,000 people suffering from cataracts in Ethiopia. Our foundation continues to support cataract surgery in Somalia and Sudan.

ARAŞTIR-MA 47ACTIVITIESHealth aid

48 Domestic aidACTIVITIES

The opening of drinking fountains in Urfa and HakkariIHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has constructed two drinking fountains, one in the Siverek district of Şanlıurfa and one in the Kaval village of Hakkari, which is located in the mountainous Levni region. A total of 1,000 people will benefit from these fountains.

12 Iraqi children have been circumcised 12 Iraqi immigrant children who live in Turkey were circumcised in a ceremony organized by IHH. The circumcision was performed at the Sultan Çiftliği Akut Tıp Merkezi and

clothes were donated to the children and their families.

IHH provides help to flood victimsIHH has provided emergency assistance in the Euphrates, 100. Yıl and Gazi quarters of Ağrı, where rainstorms in May caused flooding. Immediately after the flooding, IHH provided blankets and kitchen supplies to hundreds of families and

delivered pull-out couches and rugs to 17 families. IHH also distributed aid including pull-out couches, rugs and food to 24 families whose apartments had been damaged by a flood in Gebze in June.

Meat from sacrificed animals has been distributedDuring the past three months, IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has

delivered the meat from animals that have been sacrificed to needy families. In Istanbul, 3,125 kilograms of meat has been delivered to 240 needy Turkish families, some of which had lost their fathers, and 350 refugee families from Chechnya, Iraq, Uzbekistan, East Turkistan and Palestine. In Anatolia, 8,200 kilograms of sacrificed meat has been delivered to Sakarya, Düzce, Zonguldak, Bartın, Karabük, Bolu, Ankara, Adana, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Batman, Siirt, Tatvan and Van before the month of

Ramadan. Approximately 3,000 families have benefited from the sacrificed animals.

Refugees gathered for a picnic On June 20 IHH brought together refugees living in Istanbul and its neighboring provinces for a picnic to celebrate World Refugee Day. The picnic was held in the Belgrad Forest in Istanbul. Approximately 200 refugees from Iraq, Palestine, Chechnya, East Turkistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and various African countries attended the picnic. During the picnic, IHH’s refugee report was issued.

ARAŞTIR-MA 49ACTIVITIESDomestic aid

After the Israeli attack on the flotilla to Gaza, “Palestine Our Route, Humanitarian Aid Our

Load,” IHH received visitors from around the world. Many politicians and representatives from NGOs visited IHH to express their support. The visitors included Sheikh Ali Badr al-Sabah, a member of the Kuwaiti Royal family, representatives from the International Association of Muslim

Scholars, representatives from various European humanitarian aid organizations, activists, journalists, and members of NGOs from Kuwait, Algeria, Qatar, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, Numan Kurtulmuş, former leader of the Saadet Party, Yalçın Topçu, leader of the Büyük Birlik Partisi, Aziz Babuşçu, the Head of the Istanbul Provincial Department for AK Party, Erol Erdoğan, the Head of

the Istanbul Provincial Department for Saadet Party, Teyfik Göksu, mayor of the Esenler Municipality, Mustafa Demir, mayor of the Fatih Municipality, members of the Turkish Parliament and representatives from different NGOs. The visitors also visited the activists who had been injured in the Israeli attacks on the Mavi Marmara and the families of those who had been martyred during the attacks.

Domestic and international support for IHH

50 ACTIVITIES

The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation continues to give moral and material support to

the families of the relief volunteers who were martyred in the bloody attack on Mavi Marmara. Setting out to lift the inhumane embargo on

Gaza, the humanitarian aid flotilla was attacked in international waters by Israel; nine Turkish activists were martyred, while 54 activists were wounded. Our brothers Necdet Yıldırım, İbrahim Bilgen, Ali Haydar Bengi, Çetin Topçuoğlu, Furkan

Doğan, Fahri Yaldız, Cengiz Songür, Cengiz Akyüz, and Cevdet Kılıçlar, who lost their lives as a result of this bloody attack were buried in a funeral ceremony that thousands of people attended.

ARAŞTIR-MA 51ACTIVITIESDomestic aid

Support for thefamilies of the MartyrsThe IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation continues to give moral and material support to the families of the relief volunteers who were martyred in the bloody attack on Mavi Marmara.

Goodness flows from the heart

Orphans and those in need are not alone

As members of a global movement of support, IHH volunteers around Turkey have been supporting cataract, orphan and water-well campaigns. In the past, volunteers in Batman raised funds for the Africa Cataract Project, which covered the surgery expenses of 16 people. Volunteers in Yenibosna sold bottled water to raise funds for digging water-wells. Volunteers in Batman organized a three-day charity sale to raise money for orphans and the needy. The Kartal-based İsar Solidarity Group established a fund to support IHH’s projects concerning orphans. Volunteers in Kâğıthane-Çağlayan donated furniture to our Orphan Support Center. And the Hilal

Group, a group of female volunteers affiliated with IHH, organized an iftar and donated all the proceeds to the Pakistani people who had affected by disastrous flood.

To understand what is happening

After the Israeli attack on the humanitarian relief flotilla that was sent to Gaza by IHH, the IHH supporters who had provided various types of support to the flotilla were now even more eager to support our campaign in Gaza, as well as our other activities. IHH representatives had the opportunity to speak about the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara at seminars that were organized by our supporters. Presentations were

also made in Istanbul about the Gaza flotilla to supporters affiliated with the following groups: Çınarder, Gönülder, Ihlamurkuyu Association and the women’s branch of the Saadet Party (Saadet Party’s Women’s Branch) in Kartal, the Gönüllü Eller Association and the Kurukol-Der in Üsküdar, the Regional Headquarters of the Saadet Party in Ümraniye, Yağmurder in Pendik, Mektepder in Sultanbeyli, Akdav, Özgürder and Akoder and the youth summer school run by the Hikmet Foundation in Fatih, the İnsan ve Medeniyet Hareketi in Eyüp, the Nisan Group in Beykoz; and Gönül Erleri in Sancaktepe.

Furthermore, presentations were given concerning what had happened on the Mavi Marmara in Yozgat, Malatya,

Volunteer activities52 ACTIVITIES

IHH volunteers have continued activities to support our brothers and sisters in Gaza.

Erzurum, Azamder and at the youth camp in İzmit that was organized by the İnsan ve Medeniyet Hareketi.

“Our hearts are devoted to Palestine!”

IHH volunteers have continued activities to support our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Volunteers in Güngören, Istanbul organized a conference on Gaza and donated the proceeds to Gaza. Students at the Kâzım Karabekir Imam-Hatib School in Gazi Osman Paşa made key chains and sold them in order to raise money for Gaza. In Kâğıthane, volunteers organized a night of activities, including a conference, theater performance, small concert, and a charity sale to raise funds for Gaza.

A yacht tour and picnic were organized in Ümraniye as well.

IHH volunteers in Anatolia have increased their work for Gaza in the past three months. In Kütahya, volunteers set up a fund for Gaza and in Bolu a tent was erected in the city center immediately after the attack on the flotilla to garner public opinion in favor of the flotilla. Volunteers in Aydın organized a bake sale to raise funds for Gaza.

To make the Eid (Festival) an occasion for happiness for all

Orphans have always been a primary concern for IHH volunteers. Our volunteers consider Eid to be a special occasion and have worked devotedly

to make the orphans in Turkey and around the world happy by providing them with new clothes before the Ramadan Eid. To achieve this, the Miraç Group in Ümraniye and IHH volunteers in Beyoğlu organized bake sales and IHH volunteers collected donations in Kâğıthane. IHH volunteers affiliated with the Gaziantep Humanitarian Relief Association, IHH volunteers in Kırklareli, Lüleburgaz, Kütahya, Malatya, and Başakşehir, Pendik and Kâğıthane in Istanbul, as well as students from Kartal Anadolu Imam-Hatib and the Nisan Group in Beykoz supported the project to provide orphans with new clothes by organizing breakfasts, dinners and iftars to raise money. The İsar Group, consisting of IHH volunteers in the Kartal area, helped to raise money for

53Volunteer activities ACTIVITIES

this project by selling bottled water and manning an information desk for three days. In addition, IHH volunteers affiliated with the Adıyaman Humanitarian Relief Association and volunteers in Kütahya-Emet supported the project by organizing charity sales.

Working together for Pakistan

IHH volunteers worked together to support the victims of the disastrous flood in Pakistan. For this purpose, IHH volunteers in Erzurum, Kırşehir, Balıkesir-Gönen, Van, Kocaeli and Isparta and volunteers in the Sultanbeyli, Pendik, Beyoğlu and Bahçelievler districts of Istanbul raised funds for

Pakistan in conjunction with various organizations. Furthermore, the Kartal-based İsar Solidarity Group donated a truckload of fabric, towels and clothes and made a cash donation. IHH volunteers in Ümraniye collected cash donations as well as 20 parcels of

medical supplies, food, clothes and fabric. In Pendik, volunteers

collected a truckload of food, blankets and cleaning supplies. 15 students from the Bahçelievler Cimcime Kindergarten donated medical supplies,

diapers, and food.

Little hearts filled with love

Children enthusiastically participated in IHH’s volunteer campaigns. The

small volunteers recently visited IHH to donate what they had collected for their needy brothers and sisters around the world. Students from Elma Şekeri Anaokulu, Balözü Çocuk Yuvası, Elif Yuva ve Özlem Çocuk Yuvası as well as students from with the Fatih Center for Youth and Culture, children affiliated with the Anatolian Youth Association summer schools held in Bayrampaşa, Esenler, Sarıyer and Arnavutköy, and children from East Turkistan, in association with the East Turkistan Association of Education, contributed to IHH’s campaigns.

In addition to the children, IHH’s youth volunteers visited the foundation to learn more about the work being done. High school students affiliated with the Enderun Foundation and Özgürder were among these young visitors.

Volunteer activities54 ACTIVITIES

Thanks to our

devoted volunteers, 7,000 orphans received

new Eid clothes.

We would like to express our gratitude to

the IHH volunteers.

Our volunteers are spreading the word about IHH and its activities

IHH volunteers have been publicizing the activities of IHH in Beşiktaş, Fatih, Esenler, Başakşehir in Istanbul and at the Sarıyer Anadolu Youth Association and in Anatolia at the Mana Denizi Association in Konya-Seydişehir. They have organized seminars and invited IHH representatives to speak about recent projects and activities, such as the projects related to Palestine, the month of Ramadan and orphans.

Brotherhood in Anatolia

Conscious of the need for brotherhood and solidarity, IHH volunteers have lent a helping hand to orphans and have been helping all those in need inside and outside of the country. In Anatolia, over the past few months volunteers have collected and delivered Ramadan food packages and organized various activities and aid campaigns to benefit orphans and the Pakistani people.

Best wishes and prayers for the Pakistani people from the tradesman of İzmir

IHH volunteers affiliated with the İzmir Humanitarian Relief Association and the tradesman of İzmir have made a valuable contribution of food and textiles to Pakistan. A trailer full of food and textiles has been sent to Pakistan to help the victims of the flood.

Iftar is served to 1,500 People in Kahramanmaraş

For almost three years, volunteers from the Kahramanmaraş Humanitarian Relief Association have supported and regularly visited approximately 500 orphans in

Kahramanmaraş. The fourth-annual iftar brought together the orphans, people in need and their benefactors. Approximately 1,500 people attended the iftar. 230 children received a 70 Turkish Lira voucher for clothing, stationery, and a bag. In addition, female IHH volunteers in Kahramanmaraş raised money at a dinner to buy Eid clothing for 400 Palestinian orphans.

Solidarity iftar in Kayseri

IHH volunteers at the Kayseri Humanitarian Relief Association have organized their third iftar activity this year. The iftar dinner brought together 420 orphan families and 160 refugees.

Doctors, students and tradesmen - united for goodness

IHH volunteers of different professions have been supporting the work of IHH in charity work. Many volunteer doctors, nurses and other health care personnel serve in our Africa Cataract Project. They have also assisted in bringing emergency aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of the disastrous flood in August 2010.

In addition, IHH volunteers in various provinces in Turkey have organized a soup kitchen iftar throughout the month of Ramadan. Student volunteers supported IHH’s activities by translating materials and offering internet services. Volunteer psychologists have regularly visit the families of orphans as part of our orphan rehabilitation program.

55Volunteer activities ACTIVITIES

56 FOCUS

The UN must act according to the report they have produced

The UN must act according to the report they have produced Atty Cihat Gökdemir, President of Mazlumder, Istanbul Branch and passenger on the Mavi Marmara which took part in Palestine Our Route, Humanitarian Aid Our Load Flotilla

FOCUS 57

In May 31, 2010, Israeli soldiers attacked the Palestine Our Route, Humanitarian Aid Our Load Flotilla

in the middle of the Mediterranean. A United Nations Fact Finding Mission, formed on the basis of the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council dated June 2, 2010, No. A/HRC/RES/14/1, delivered the report No. A/HRC/15/21, prepared to submit to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by September 22, 2010.

Report No. A/HRC/15/21 examines the human right violations that occurred during and in the aftermath of the Israeli attack on the Humanitarian Aid Flotilla from the perspective of international humanitarian laws and human rights laws; this was an act that caused the death of 9 people and the injury of many more.

In order to investigate the Israeli attack, the mission collected evidence by interviewing the victims in Geneva, London, Istanbul and Amman. Additionally the Commission also examined the condition of the Mavi Marmara, Gazze I and Defne/Y ships that were docked in the Iskenderun Port during their inquiries in Turkey.

The fact that the mission is impartial, independent and international and that the reports is issues are the same are well-attested. The UN Human Rights Council is an international organ that is formed of representatives from different countries around the world. The Commission has the authority to investigate, observe the course of events and issue reports concerning human rights issues. The Commission authorizes an investigatory mission

that consists of impartial, independent and internationally attested lawyers to examine the necessary issues. This commission also prepares reports and submits them to the Commission.

The regular procedures were followed concerning the Israeli attack on the ships that were part of the in the Palestine Our Route, Humanitarian Aid Our Load Flotilla. The UN Human Rights Council designated a Fact-Finding Mission. The head of the commission was Karl T. Hudson-Phillips, a retired judge from the International Criminal Court. The members were Sir Desmond Da Silva, the chief prosecutor of the International Court for Sierra Leone and Mary Shanthi Dairiam, an ex-member of the Committee for the Prevention of Discrimination against

Fact Finding Mission of the United Nations Human Rights CouncilThe UN Human Rights Council has decided, with resolution No. A/HRC/RES/14/1, dated June 2, 2010, to authorize an independent internati-onal inspection mission to examine the violation of international huma-nitarian laws and human rights laws caused by the attack of the Israeli forces on May 31, 2010 against the our Route, Humanitarian Aid our Load Flotilla that was on its way to Gaza. The same resolution authori-zes the president of the Commission to appoint the members of the mis-sion.

After seven week, on July 23, 2010, the UN Human Rights Council appo-inted Karl T. Hudson-Phillips, one of the retired judges of the Internatio-nal Criminal Court and former chief Prosecutor of Trinidad and Tobago, as the president and administrator of the mission.

In keeping with customary practice, the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) established a sec-retarial office to support the mission. Members of the mission were helped from outside by professionals wor-king for other institutions. These inc-luded professionals who specialize in medical jurisprudence, pathology, mi-litary issues, weapons, maritime law and international humanitarian law.

The testimony of eye witnesses, reports from forensic experts, intervi-ews with Turkish medical and foren-sic personnel and written statements, video records and other visual ma-

terial related to the event, as well as various sources of information have been submitted to the mission. Mem-bers of the mission visited Istanbul, Ankara and Iskenderun in Turkey, Amman, Jordan and London, Eng-land to interview the eye-witnesses, to hold meetings with representatives of the governments and to examine the Mavi Marmara ship, in which 9 people were martyred, as well as the Defne/Y and Gaza I ships. As part of

the investigation, the mission contac-ted various people who were likely to provide information.

UN Panel of Inquiry on the Flotilla Incident of 31 May

On August 2, 2010 the Secretary General to the UN announced that a “Panel to Inquire into the Flotilla Incident of May 31” was established. The Secretary General did not spe-cify the area of inquiry for the panel, but he expressed his hope that the Panel “would use its authority on the basis of the Presidential Statement of the Security Council.” The Panel of Inquiry has been endowed with the authority to take and examine

the national investigation reports so that it can advise on preventing the occurrence of similar events in the future.

As is generally known, the duty and the purpose of the Panel designated by the Secretary General is “to help guide the relationship between Tur-key and Israel as well as the general atmosphere in the Middle East in a positive direction.” Thus, this is very different from the report released by UN Commission for the Human Rights and is completely political in nature.

This Panel consists of Geoffrey Palmer, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who is the chair of the Panel, Alvaro Uribe, former Pre-sident of Columbia, who is the assis-tant to the chair, Joseph Ciechanove from Israel, and Özdem Sanberk, a retired ambassador from Turkey.

The Panel began its work on August 10, with the members of the panel convening for a second time on 2 and 3 September in New York; it presented the first progress report to the Secretary General on September 15. Turkey submitted its report to the investigatory commission on Sep-tember 1.

If the “final report” of the investiga-tion commission is scheduled to be submitted to the Secretary General in February of next year, it is likely that the commission will prepare a further, non-final, report.

58 FOCUS

Women.

The Fact-Finding Mission concluded that the attack perpetrated by the Israeli State and Israeli state officials on the Palestine Our Route, Humanitarian Aid Our Load Flotilla which was sailing through international waters and which was bringing humanitarian relief to Gaza, was “a grave violation of human rights.” The mission reached this conclusion after independent and impartial inquiries.

The mission describes the Israeli attack to have been “disproportionate, excessive and brutal.”

In the report, it is emphasized that “The attack on the flotilla must be viewed in the context of the ongoing problems between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and people.” It states that “similar events are likely to reoccur unless there can be a dramatic shift in the existing paradigm.” It also points out that “an unjust victory has never been known to bring lasting peace.”

In addition, the following statement by members of the fact-finding mission

indicates that sending the flotilla, which was aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade, was correct, while the Israeli blockade against Gaza is unjust: “The Mission has come to the firm conclusion that a humanitarian crisis existed on 31 May 2010 in Gaza. The preponderance of evidence from impeccable sources is too overwhelming to arrive at a contrary opinion. There are no rational grounds that would support the denial of this. One of the consequences that emanates from this is that for this reason alone the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law. This is regardless of the grounds on which one seeks to justify the legality of the blockade.” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph:261)

The following were included in the views expressed in

the concluding section of the report:

“Principally, the action of the Israel Defense Force in intercepting the Mavi Marmara on the high seas under the circumstances and for the

reasons given was clearly unlawful. Specifically, the action cannot be justified under the circumstances, even under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 262)

“Any action in response which constitutes collective punishment of the civilian population in Gaza is not lawful in any circumstances.” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 263)

“The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the passengers of the flotilla was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and extreme violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality. Such conduct cannot be justified or condoned on security, or any other grounds. It constituted a grave violation of human rights’ law and international humanitarian law.”

(A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 264)

“The Mission considers that several violations and offences have been committed. … there is clear evidence to support prosecutions for the following crimes within

FOCUS 59

the terms of article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention:” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 265)

• Willful killing;• Torture or inhuman treatment;• Willfully causing great suffering or serious bodily harm or injury to health.

The Mission also considers that a series of violations of Israel’s obligations under international human rights’ law have taken place, including:

• Right to life (art. 6, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights);

• Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art. 7, International Covenant; Convention against Torture);

• Right to liberty and security of the person and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention (art. 9, International Covenant);

• Right of detainees to be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person (art. 10, International Covenant);

• Freedom of expression (art. 19, International Covenant).

“The Mission notes that the retention by the Israeli authorities of unlawfully seized property remains a continuing offence and Israel is called upon to return such property forthwith.” (A/

HRC/15/21 paragraph: 265)

“The perpetrators of the more serious crimes, as they were masked, cannot be identified without the assistance of the Israeli authorities. … The Mission sincerely hopes that there will be cooperation from the Government of Israel to assist in their identification with a view to prosecuting the culpable and bringing closure to the situation.” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 267)

“The Mission is aware that this is not the first time that the Government of Israel has declined to cooperate with an inquiry into events in which its military personnel have been involved.” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 268)

“All the passengers on board the ships comprising the flotilla who appeared before the Mission impressed the members as persons genuinely committed to the spirit of humanitarianism and imbued with a deep and genuine concern for the welfare of the inhabitants of Gaza. The Mission can only express the hope that differences will be resolved in the short rather than the long-term, so that peace and harmony may exist in the area.” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 273)

Finally in the report, with the following statement Israel is asked to pay compensation: “The Mission sincerely hopes that no impediment will be put in the way of those who suffered loss as a result of the unlawful actions of the Israeli military to be compensated adequately and promptly. It is hoped that there will be swift action by the Government of Israel. This will go a long way to reversing the regrettable

reputation which that country has for impunity and intransigence in international affairs. …” (A/HRC/15/21 paragraph: 278)

The reports confirm the inhuman Israel attitude as expressed specifically by its attack on the flotilla and generally by its blockade of the Gaza strip. In this respect, all the countries around the world, as well

as the countries in the region, and in particular Turkey, should take relevant steps to eliminate the inhuman blockade described in the report and to ensure the restitution of the rights of people who were victimized in the flotilla.

The commencement of national investigations

were announced in both Israel and Turkey, respectively on 15 July

and 10 August 2010

60 FOCUS

Kyrgyzstan under the shadow of clashes

IN THE FIELD 61

Orhan Şefik

In Osh and Jalalabad, two cities in the southern part of Kyrgyzstan, ethnic clashes occurred between

Kyrgyz and Uzbek groups on June 10. After the clashes, many people fled their homes for other places. In 1990, many people were killed and there was considerable material damage from

a similar incident in the region. This recent event reminded the people once more of the nightmare of ethnic violence.

The background of the clashes

Kyrgyzstan is a playground for great powers, due to its important geographical location. The country, which borders Russia and China, declared independence when the Soviet Union disintegrated. It is also strategically important for the

Americans, as there is an American military basis within

Kyrgyzstan under the shadow of clashes62 IN THE FIELD

its boundaries. The U.S. uses this military basis to transport soldiers to Afghanistan and for logistic purposes. Additionally, this country is an important transition point for the opium trade that originates in Afghanistan. It is estimated that $70 million worth of opium passes through this region each year.

On April 7, 2010, Bakiyev, the former president of Kyrgyzstan, fled first to the south of the country, which supports him, and then via Kazakhstan sought asylum in Belarus. When the government of Roza Otambayeva, which replaced him, failed to reinstitute security in the country, a power struggle emerged. The Uzbek politicians in the region agitated the people through the use of propaganda. They even went as far as to announce that the region had become an autonomous Uzbek region and made threatening

speeches against the security forces in the region. It has been confirmed that some groups obtained weapons. For example, two months before the events in the Uzbek capital, it has been proven that vehicles in the city were stolen to be turned into armored vehicles.

The success of the Uzbek people in business in Kyrgyzstan and their control of the fertile land to the south of the country have contributed to the resurgence of ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan.

Due to the lack of control in the country, the masked and armed provocateurs have remained on the loose and thus the people have desperately tried to solve the problems themselves which resulted in the growth of the hatred and enmity between these two ethnic groups. Currently, tensions remain in the

capital city, Osh, as well as in the rest of the region.

IHH from the beginning has tried to monitor the situation in Kyrgyzstan and keep in contact with its partners in the region. The crisis management center decided to send an emergency convoy, consisting of two doctors and two IHH representatives, to the region on June 16, 2010. IHH then decided to start its own activities in the region.

Jalalabad

IHH set up emergency assistance activities first in Jalalabad. On our way to the city, we visited villages in the border region, where we came across approximately 10-15 Uzbek families living together in one house.

There was an inspection point at the border, which was covered in wire netting. A wooden bridge had been constructed over a 1 meter wide and 1.5 meter deep ditch.

In Jalalabad, we came across similar scenes: apartments and shops, small and large, had been burnt down. Furthermore, the university and television building had also been burnt down as they belonged to Kadircan Batirov, who was on the run and is suspected of having provoked the incidents.

We started charity activities

A council of reconciliation was established by imams who were being educated in a training center supported by IHH, with imams from Bishkek and NGO representatives. Members of the council played an important role in preventing the violence from spreading throughout Jalalabad. Muslims who were

aware of the incident attempted to prevent more bloodshed by trying to reestablish peace. Many hosted

Uzbek families in their homes during the three days when the fighting was the most violent.

Our Turkish and Kyrgyz brothers and sisters helped us unpack the aid material that we had brought. In Kyrgyzstan we delivered a total of 500 parcels of food, 350 of which were given to Uzbeks and 150 to Kyrgyz families. We began delivering the parcels in areas inhabited mostly by Uzbeks. To prevent any casualties, we were accompanied by Uzbek people in the Uzbek districts and Kyrgyz people in the Kyrgyz districts. The people waiting for help greeted us with tears in their eyes.

Our deliveries in the city of Osh

Osh was like a ghost town, as 80% of the population had fled the city. The grand bazaar in the city center and apartments belonging to Uzbeks had been destroyed. Graffiti on the

apartment doors called for: “Death to Uzbeks.” On the doors of some apartments the word “Kyrgyz” was

inscribed as a warning to the militants so they would not burn down these houses. However, this did not stop the militants.

We first delivered our aid packages to a tent city of 72 Krygyz families. When we arrived, the families were busy erecting their tents. They shared their story: “The Uzbeks came to our village and told us to leave. They said they did not want to hurt us. We left our village and came here. We do not have much, but we have left our homes.

We do not know what is going to happen to us.”

We could not enter the Uzbek districts to deliver aid because of the barriers put up at the entrance to their districts. Even government officials could not enter these districts because of the snipers that had been placed in apartments. While delivering aid in the city center, we were accompanied by three officers, one of which was armed. We distributed aid packages to families who were being held in a wedding hall in the city center, to families in a nursing home, to families in orphanages, and to families who had taken refuge with relatives.

We do not forget the orphans

Before departing from Kyrgyzstan, we distributed food, clothes, blankets and toys to 67 orphans at the Bishkek School of the Deaf, which is run by the Ministry of the Youth, and to 62 orphans in the Issik Lake region.

Kyrgyzstan under the shadow of clashes IN THE FIELD 63

“They burned our home!”A 45-year old woman greeted us in well-spoken Turkish: “Welcome!” (Hoş geldiniz!) She continued, “After these incidents no one visited us. May God be pleased with you, our Turkish brothers.” This woman, a textile trader, had visited Turkey many times so she spoke some Turkish.

She wept as she told us her story: “When the incidents began, we turned off the lights and began waiting. 15-20 people broke into our apartment, took my car keys, money and asked if I had a daughter. I have three children, aged 15, 9 and 2. I had hidden my daughter under the bed. They tried to find my two other children and I shouted, “you took my car keys, what else do you want!” One of them had a bottle of gasoline and was trying to light it so that they could burn my apartment down. But the lighter didn’t work, so they left. They had an armored vehicle which they had hijacked from the police station and were driving it at my apartment. I immediately threw my children from the second floor of our apartment into the neighbor’s yard. We narrowly escaped. My two year old baby is still afraid. He did not eat anything for two days; he would not breastfeed. He wakes up in the middle of the night crying and has been vomiting continuously. I do not know what to do!” She pointed at her apartment and added, “They could not burn it with gasoline, but they destroyed it by shooting.”

What would you do to uplift a wounded nation?

What would you do to uplift a wounded nation?

We went to Albania to distribute IHH’s Ramadan aid packages and to come

together with families of orphans, a country that has been severely damaged since the country split from the Ottoman Empire, due to the changes in regime that occurred up until the 1990s. The hand that reaches out to help from Turkey brings hope during Ramadan to the families in need

in Albania; this is a time when the steps for rebuilding the educational system and religious feeling become more meaningful.

The age of awakening

The land of the “two headed eagle” is trying to rise again after the destruction it faced under fascist and communist rule. The culture and religion of the

country were severely restricted under Fascism, during the reign of Mussolini, and under Communist rule after the Second World War. After the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Albania started to depart from Communism. However, the truly painful process started after this period. While the question “What is going to replace the dictatorial government?” was waiting to be answered, the Albanians started

Elvide Demirkol

What would you do to uplift a wounded nation?64 IN THE FIELD

to seek a way to regain their national and religious identity, after attempts by the atheist system to erase the national memory and religious awareness. We are talking about an era when mosques were destroyed, when praying and even burying the dead in Muslim cemeteries was forbidden. In such a country, where even thinking was forbidden, a philosophy department could only opened in 1996. So what is happening in Tirana now, where things go from hot to cold? What is the standard of living, the life of the people, orphans, and women living in sorrow after this painful period? While trying to make the Albanian children smile in Ramadan with educational and cultural assistance, IHH is trying to find answers to these questions.

75% of the population is Muslim

Albania is 75% Muslim. However, we have focused on the period of Fascism and Communism, particularly from the 1940s to the 1990s, when the religious freedom of the people was brutally taken away. According to the first article of the Albanian constitution the state has no official religion. Today, the majority of the people who go to mosques are the elderly and the young generation. The middle-aged section of the population is not keen on praying or fasting. There are even those who have internalized non-religious traditions, such as burning candles in Muslim cemeteries.

The deplorable state of the Ottoman heritage

One of the first acts of the Communist regime was to confiscate the waqf lands. After the fall of the Communist regime, when intellectual life and national development was paralyzed,

the Albania Directorate of Religious Affairs was formed in 1991 and the waqf lands were returned to this institution.

The Head of the ALSAR Foundation, Mehdi Gurra, talks about the process after this period: “These lands started to be sold and hotels and shopping centers started appearing on them. In 1994, the Albanian government started returning the waqf estates to the Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, and Bektashi communities. However, these waqf estates, which have been returned to the Directorate of Religious Affairs, are slowly being sold off. For example, the Suleyman Pasha Kulliye, which was built in 1614, was returned to the Directorate. The Directorate sold the land, which was more than three acres. Most of the lands of the Directorate are awaiting the same fate.” In addition, Gurra states that the Ottomans are referred to as “invaders” in schoolbooks, he says: “Nothing has changed about this, even after Prime Minister Erdoğan’s phone call to the Albanian government.”

Iftar in Musketa

We went to Albania with volunteers from Istanbul and Anatolia as guests in the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan, only a few weeks after sending aid for the flood. Our first visit was to the ALSAR Foundation, IHH’s partner in Albania. The head of the foundation, Mehdi Gurra, who studied theology in Turkey, tells us about the activities of the foundation in fluent Turkish. ALSAR undertakes activities such as support for education, culture, and orphans, as well as offering Qur’anic courses in summer, training imams, awarding tuition scholarships to students, and building and maintaining mosques. The foundation’s greatest supporter for

these activities is IHH. We went to the iftar dinner that is organized by IHH in the Musketa village with Mehdi Gurra, who guided us throughout our visit in Albania.

A church in a village where there are no Christians

Musketa, which is located 22 kilometers from the capital of Tirana, is a village which has 163 residents, all of whom are Muslim. However, the building of a church in a village where no Christians live by a Dutch entrepreneur, based on the excuse of “I am going to build a cultural center here”, is a blatant example of the missionary activities that take place here after the fall of the Communist regime. We also learned that several other villages have the same problem.

Traveling abroad for hope

After embassies were reopened in Albania on 1 July 1990, following the collapse of the Communist regime, they served as an exit for people who wanted to flee from the country. Because of financial difficulties, people cannot even buy farming equipment to cultivate their lands. The unemployment figures seem low because an exodus to other countries began after the fall of the Communist regime. Where do they go? Greece, Italy, Germany… While talking about Greece, we must mention something here. Greece placed a condition on those who left Albania for economic reasons: They had to change their names to non-Muslim ones!

The country of women in black

Civil strife, chromium mine disasters, and accidents abroad have left many orphans and widows in Albania.

IN THE FIELD 65What would you do to uplift a wounded nation?

Our journey takes us to the National Museum in Albania’s capital of Tirana, perhaps for the most significant meeting of our journey. Here wait the children who have lost their fathers and their sorrowful mothers for us. At first we do not understand the meaning of the women all wearing black. When we ask, we learn how the color of mourning color, symbolizes the life of these women.

Smiling faces

In Albania, women who have lost their spouses wear black. Sometimes for years, maybe until they marry again, or perhaps for a lifetime. Widows who do not wear black are frowned upon, as if they could forget their sorrow by taking their clothes off! In the conference room of the museum, we found the

women in black and their children, with whom they try to hold on to life, waiting for us. The shining eyes of the children next to their mothers warmed our hearts. When we approached them, they hugged us as if they had been waiting to be hugged for a long time; they all smiled.

The orphans’ excitement in receiving Eid clothing

Names were read, and mothers and children were invited to take the floor. The aid packages that had been prepared by IHH’s partner organization, ALSAR, were distributed one by one. There are presents for Ramadan and Eid in the packages: Eid clothing, toys, candy, and chocolate. The packages, which had been prepared by the volunteer women in the IHH Orphan

Support Centers in Istanbul, were placed in tiny hands.

From Turkey to the world

The money saved from the housekeeping and spending on extras is collected, saved, and turned into smiles for the sorrowful orphans and their families all over the world with the help of IHH. We witness this up close in Tirana.

We met Ayda during one of the distributions in Albania, and her story breaks all of our hearts. While helping the orphans herself, she was left widowed with her three children after the death of her husband. It is sad to see her name among the mothers who receive orphan aid. Despite all this, she managed to be strong and hold her family together.

Both hopes and sorrows shared

Bulqize is a city that was built in the high mountains which remind us of the Taurus Mountains. Most of the people live in poverty in this chromium-rich city. Chromium mines are the biggest source of income for families. Some had to leave the country for work after the fall of the Communist regime. Those who stayed do not have the chance to smile. We learned that last year 12 people have died in the mines. Many of the men who died have left behind wives and children. We came to Bulqize to help these poor people. The IHH packages were distributed in the garden of the local government building. The group who registered earlier all stood in line. They received the packages, which contained basic necessities such as sugar, flour, rice, pasta, oil, and soap. 500 families received packages and returned home relieved.

What would you do to uplift a wounded nation?66 IN THE FIELD

The code was to stroke the head of an orphan; to put a smile on their faces... Are they not the

ones who are considered to be the most valuable? Is it not enough to receive the special care and concern of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him)? Isn’t stroking the head of an orphan the only medicine for a cold heart, the way to open the gates of Heaven, perhaps to even be a neighbor to Prophet Muhammad?

Turkish patrons of charity reach out for the hands of children who have

been orphaned due to war, invasion, natural disasters, poverty, and disease in Turkey and all over the world to reach this goal. Thousands of orphans smile in Turkey and 27 other countries with the Sponsor Family Project of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. Orphans are supported materially and morally, and their problems are solved with the support of IHH. Here we will tell you about the story of Furkan, who lives in Turkey.

Furkan was only 9 years old. He was playing with his father and three

siblings. Furkan and his siblings thought it was part of the game when their father had a heart attack. They thought he was fooling around and they waited for their father to finish the game as soon as possible, but this did not happen. That was the last day Furkan and his siblings played with their father, or felt his warmth.

Fatma became the father and mother for her four children. In order to provide for the household, she started taking on cleaning jobs. She was trying to shoulder the weight that she had to

Our sacred responsibility, Furkan

Our sacred responsibility, Furkan AN ORPHAN’S STORY 67

Büşra Sancaktar

Our sacred responsibility, Furkan68 AN ORPHAN’S STORY

carry at a young age, and while trying to provide for her family, she was also trying to make sure her children did not miss their father. But her burden increased after she started having health problems. One of her children had a serious intestinal illness and had to go through a series of operations; her younger daughter had Attention Deficit Disorder, and the oldest one was suffering from obesity due to a problem with her thyroid gland.

Her neighbors stepped in and helped Fatma with these problems. Her neighbors, who knew about IHH’s orphan-support project, arranged for her children to receive support from IHH.

But the family’s trials did not end here. All the good things said about orphans were for nothing with each slap Furkan received on his face. Furkan has been beaten by his teacher for the last three years. Fatma could not stop it, even though she spoke to the teacher and the principal several times. Her demand

for a change in class was refused. According to his mother, little Furkan was “abandoned”, and he became “the punching bag for the teacher,” according to his schoolmates. He was forced to sit in the last row in classes, and was not taken on school trips as he was a “troublemaker”.

Little Furkan went up to the teacher that day to ask just one thing, but even before asking the question, he received a slap. How can you raise your hand against a child, especially if he has not father? How could the hand that should be nurturing him and protecting him, slap him instead?

With the force of the blow, Furkan fell to the floor, and his teacher kicked him as he lay on the ground. He had bruises on his body and on his head. His heart was also broken after being beaten in front of his friends. He was living through the worst moments of not having a father. Even though all the other children left school for their homes, he did not return

home. His mother searched for him everywhere, and found him sitting in the park, covered in bruises. She did not know what to do at first, but taking the advice of a psychologist she had been seeing, with the help of IHH, she remained her calm, went to the police station to file charges, and received a forensics report.

At this point, IHH, which not only supports orphans materially, but also focuses on their problems, got in touch with the school. An apology was demanded, but the teacher denied the charges, claiming that Furkan had been beaten by bullies in the park.

During this process, the school attempted to convince all the parents and students who knew about the situation not to serve as witnesses in the court case. The families were told that their children were lying. Parents, concerned about the future of their own children, decided not to appear as witnesses. And, Furkan and his

Our sacred responsibility, Furkan AN ORPHAN’S STORY 69

family were abandoned. Even their close friends were saying: “Yes, we know he is being beaten, but we cannot be witnesses, because our children go to that school, too.”

Furkan is a sacred responsibility and should be treated accordingly. The IHH Orphan Unit attained the services of a volunteer attorney. IHH filed charges against the teacher. The Senate Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of National Education, Provincial and District Directorates of Education, education unions, and NGOs, such as Mazlumder, were informed of the situation. In the light of this, the school’s management tried to convince the teacher to retract, while trying to learn about those who were supporting Furkan and his mother. At the same time, his mother was trying to fight for the rights of her child, with the confidence of having IHH, which was ready to support them in every part of their lives, on her side.

After the problematic process and on the initiative of IHH, Furkan was taken out of the school. His new teacher said “Welcome” to him while patting his head on the first day of registration at his new school. His eyes shone thanks to the interest shown by his new teacher. He loved his new teacher and school, and his grades improved significantly. The investigation was completed at his old school, and both the teacher and the principal were fired.

A moderate resistance against missionary schools: Oral education70 CULTURE

Although education is one of the priorities for people, the ever-present shadow of colonialism

has left the African Muslims with many problems concerning education. Despite many difficulties the Muslim population has been able to devise its own educational system. The condition in African countries has compelled them to use this traditional method of education.

When the colonial powers formally withdrew from these states they left missionaries behind. The missionaries, whom you can see everywhere and the colonial states, which should have granted African countries with independence, but rather kept closely control over all African countries, have affected the educational struggle and Muslim people in particular.

As there were Catholic schools, which spread quickly around Africa and became the most prestigious schools in their region, the states did not put much attention into setting up schools or how they were run. Unfortunately, the European funding marked for

educational purposes was transferred to these Catholic schools. Thus, we can easily discern the idea behind this: children either will receive education and be Christian or will remain uneducated and ignorant. At times there was such an abuse of this socio-political power that they created and taught a false history in which Christian figures and elements were assigned a greatly exaggerated function and

place. Given this situation, the Muslim population chose to send their children to Madrasas, traditional schools, where the traditional system of education was followed, instead of sending them to the Catholic schools.

Madrasas are the only alternative

African Muslims consider Madrasa education to be very important. For them, knowledge of the Qur’an is a precondition for other kinds of knowledge. Madrasas follow an oral education system, which has been shaped by various exigencies into a tradition. Oral education is an indispensable method used in every African country. It is carried out without the use of any notebooks or pencils. The teacher simply says something and children repeat after their teacher. It is based on rote learning.

Out of the belief that the knowledge obtained by overcoming difficulties is more sacred and better, people sometime send their children to the farthest Madrasa or school. At times, people living in large cities send their children to small towns so that the children receive a traditional Madrasa education as boarding-school students. They have wooden tablets called Luh on which verses from the Qur’an and Prophetic sayings

A moderate resistance against missionary schools: Oral education

Mervenur Lüleci

Oral education is an indispensable method used in every African country. It is carried out without the use of notebooks or pencils. The teacher simply says something and children repeat after the teacher. This is based on rote learning.

CULTURE 71A moderate resistance against missionary schools: Oral education

are written to help students study and memorize them. When these have been memorized, the written information is erased. The students are careful not to erase the writing before fully memorizing it. These writings may be kept for a whole day at most.

Oral education is quite common

Madrasas, which were established recently by various Muslim countries in large cities, have been following the oral education system partly out of a sense of tradition as well as due to the poverty that greatly affects the region. The system of Madrasas is in accordance with the traditions and designed to meet the expectations of the people. Children go to the Madrasa in the morning and to schools in the afternoon. They do not return home without attending their Madrasa in the evening.

Weak economies have prevented children from being able to afford pencils or paper in Chad, Kenya, and even in Ethiopia, a country that was never colonized. In the absence of notebooks and pencils, children use wooden tablets and ink made from coal or material taken from the bottom of stewpots. African Muslims have produced their own alternatives and struggled to educate their children despite facing many difficulties. In almost every family there is person who has memorized the entire Qur’an. They continue to resist the colonial as well as missionary activities and take many steps to improve their education as conditions allowed. The Luhs with Qur’anic verses on them bear witness to the difficulties which they have resisted as well as their strength in this cause.

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IHH Humanitarian Relief Magazine 43