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Middle East

Türkiye

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FRAGILITY RANKING

52nd out of 180 countries


Overview

In 2014, Türkiye became the country hosting the world’s largest number of refugees. It is estimated that 4 million refugees have sought safe haven in Türkiye and they are mostly from neighboring war-torn or instable countries: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Ukraine.

The influx of thousands of refugees from around the region has created enormous challenges in Türkiye.

Many refugees come to Türkiye with complex injuries, both physical and emotional. Thousands have sustained life-altering physical injuries due to the conflict, while for others the psychological trauma of war and violence is ongoing.

These refugees need health, rehabilitation and protection services, but COVID-19 and a weak socio-economic situation means the country’s infrastructure, healthcare system, and economy is struggling to meet the needs of so many. As a result, the majority of the refugee population is unable to access the services necessary to rebuild their lives and begin to plan for their futures.

We began working from Türkiye in 2013, with a focus on providing medical services and water trucking across the southern border into Syria. But as the Syrian crisis expanded to impact the country’s neighbors, so have our programs to meet the growing need in Türkiye itself. We support both the refugee population and vulnerable members of the communities that host them.

We currently support six comprehensive rehabilitation centers across Türkiye for refugees with disabilities. These centers specialize in providing prosthetics, orthotics, and physical therapy and mental health services for refugees with disabilities.

In addition to addressing refuges immediate needs, Relief International is also leading humanitarian efforts to raise aware about disabilities among refugee communities. We have conducted several studies about the prevalence of disabilities among these communities, and have provided training to civil actors and public institutes about disability and inclusion. We also regularly coordinate with other humanitarian organizations, working groups, public institutions, and local authorities to identify and eradicate key barriers to inclusion.

“Often, people think that receiving a prosthetic is the final step for someone who has lost a limb during conflict. However, in many ways, it is just the start of an adjustment process that requires hours of painstaking work,” says RI Senior Project Officer, Mohammed Dahan. “The person must learn how to live with their device, how to maintain it, and how to strengthen their body to use it correctly.”

“Our services are designed holistically to help prosthetic recipients overcome the physical and mental challenges they encounter in this process.”


Our 2023 Impact in Türkiye
55K
people trained on healthy practices
55
healthcare facilities supported
60K
mental health and physical rehabilitation consultations provided
Video
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Providing Safe and Inclusive Access to Physical Rehabilitation Services in Türkiye

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Providing Safe and Inclusive Access to Physical Rehabilitation Services in Türkiye

Linda was injured after her house was shelled during the conflict in Syria. To escape the fighting, Linda and her family sought refuge in Türkiye.

There, she heard about Relief International and its partner organizations who provide rehabilitation services to Syrian refugees. Linda received a prosthetic leg and took part in rehabilitation sessions where she learnt how to walk again.

Stories From Türkiye

Learn more about our work in Türkiye from our staff and program participants.

Türkiye

Najm’s Journey to Reclaimed Mobility and a New Life

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Türkiye

From Healing to Helping: Muna’s Role in Transforming Lives in Türkiye

Muna’s transformation from patient to staff member at an RI supported rehabilitation center in Turkiye highlights a journey of remarkable resilience, offering hope and recovery for others affected by war.

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Syria

Türkiye and Syria Earthquakes – Six Months On

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Türkiye

The Humanitarian Spirit: From War in Syria to the Earthquake in Türkiye

“In war you have frontlines but here a building can collapse on you at any moment,” says Hussam Aljundi, RI’s Programs Director in Türkiye, who experienced the February 2023 earthquakes first hand.

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Türkiye

Hassan’s Story: Learning to Walk for a Second Time

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Türkiye

Finding Health and Hope in Turkey

Omer’s leg was amputated after an airstrike hit his home in Syria when he was 2.

His recovery has taken time, but he is now finally able to walk again.

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Türkiye

On the Road to Physical Recovery

Recovering from a life threatening illness requires huge amounts of resilience and hard work. Dalal, a 60 year old Syrian refugee living in Turkey, has both.

Dalal attended physical therapy sessions at a center operated by RI after having a stroke. The sessions dramatically improved her quality of life, helping her slowly regain her mobility and independence.

READ MORE
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Türkiye

Najm’s Journey to Reclaimed Mobility and a New Life

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Türkiye

From Healing to Helping: Muna’s Role in Transforming Lives in Türkiye

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Syria

Türkiye and Syria Earthquakes – Six Months On

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Türkiye

The Humanitarian Spirit: From War in Syria to the Earthquake in Türkiye

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Türkiye

Hassan’s Story: Learning to Walk for a Second Time

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Türkiye

Finding Health and Hope in Turkey

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Türkiye

On the Road to Physical Recovery

RI-Blue-Stamp-Logo.png
20240130-Diego_Cupolo_DSC_4316LRW-e1710868069374.jpg
Turki-Aljasim-Outside-the-center_MG_0416.jpg
IMG_0464-e1682438502592.jpg
1DANIELLE.VILLASANA_RELIEF_INTERNATIONAL_31-1-scaled-e1615198800368.jpg
omer-6.png
Dalal-1.png
RI-Blue-Stamp-Logo.png

Najm’s Journey to Reclaimed Mobility and a New Life

20240130-Diego_Cupolo_DSC_4316LRW-e1710868069374.jpg

From Healing to Helping: Muna’s Role in Transforming Lives in Türkiye

Turki-Aljasim-Outside-the-center_MG_0416.jpg

Türkiye and Syria Earthquakes – Six Months On

IMG_0464-e1682438502592.jpg

The Humanitarian Spirit: From War in Syria to the Earthquake in Türkiye

1DANIELLE.VILLASANA_RELIEF_INTERNATIONAL_31-1-scaled-e1615198800368.jpg

Hassan’s Story: Learning to Walk for a Second Time

omer-6.png

Finding Health and Hope in Turkey

Dalal-1.png

On the Road to Physical Recovery

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