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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

One Year Since the Türkiye and Syria earthquakes: Aziza’s Story

RI staff assisting Aziza in using her assistive device.

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Syria

Türkiye and Syria Earthquakes – Six Months On

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Türkiye

Relief International hosts workshop on children with disabilities and reveals study findings

Relief International led a forum to promote awareness, foster dialogue, and explore possibilities to address challenges and improve the lives of refugee children with special needs in Türkiye.

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Syria

Earthquake in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria

A massive earthquake has hit Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria – killing thousands and devastating entire communities.

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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

Relief Through Physical Therapy in Turkey

Pain in her hands, arms and neck made it difficult for Taiba to walk. After a series of physical therapy sessions at an RI-supported center in Turkey, she can now walk, use her fingers, and lift her.

 

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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.

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Türkiye

Providing Life-Changing Prosthetics for Syrian Refugees

One and a half million people in Syria are currently living with permanent impairments, including over 80,000 who have lost limbs.

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Türkiye

One Year Since the Türkiye and Syria earthquakes: Aziza’s Story

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Syria

Türkiye and Syria Earthquakes – Six Months On

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Türkiye

Relief International hosts workshop on children with disabilities and reveals study findings

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Syria

Earthquake in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria

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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

Relief Through Physical Therapy in Turkey

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Türkiye

Finding Health and Hope in Turkey

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Türkiye

On the Road to Physical Recovery

Rahaf is a technician who makes prosthetic limbs at Relief International's clinic. Rachel Elkind/RI

Türkiye

Providing Life-Changing Prosthetics for Syrian Refugees

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Rahaf is a technician who makes prosthetic limbs at Relief International's clinic. Rachel Elkind/RI
EVSAD-2.jpg

One Year Since the Türkiye and Syria earthquakes: Aziza’s Story

Turki-Aljasim-Outside-the-center_MG_0416.jpg

Türkiye and Syria Earthquakes – Six Months On

DSF1800.jpg

Relief International hosts workshop on children with disabilities and reveals study findings

Turkey-Syria-eathrquake-3.png

Earthquake in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria

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

13-KILIS.jpg

Relief Through Physical Therapy in Turkey

omer-6.png

Finding Health and Hope in Turkey

Dalal-1.png

On the Road to Physical Recovery

Rahaf is a technician who makes prosthetic limbs at Relief International's clinic. Rachel Elkind/RI

Providing Life-Changing Prosthetics for Syrian Refugees

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