Examining Türkiye’s Humanitarian Aid Performance in the Case of Syria/Syrian Refugees

Abstract

This study examines Türkiye's humanitarian aid performance in relation to Syria and Syrian refugees, covering the period from the onset of the Syrian civil war to present. The evaluation is conducted through the lens of four key dimensions commonly emphasized in humanitarian aid literature: Coverage, Sufficiency, Complementarity, Connectedness, and Effectiveness. These dimensions provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the nature and effectiveness of Türkiye’s humanitarian efforts. The study examines aid directed both to Syrian refugees within Türkiye and to war-affected populations within Syrian territories under Türkiye’s sphere of influence, shaped by its security policies. While Türkiye remains the largest donor of humanitarian aid, its performance has been influenced by internal challenges and global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting the dimensions of scope and adequacy. The findings suggest that addressing these challenges requires enhancing local initiatives and fostering stronger global cooperation networks to improve the overall effectiveness of humanitarian assistance.

Keywords

• Coverage
• Effectiveness
• Humanitarian Aid
• Syrian refugees
• Syria

References

1. AA-Anatolia Agency- (2019), 1,109 humanitarian workers killed in Syria, [Online] https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/suriyede-bin-109-insani-yardim-calisani-olduruldu-/1416809, 23.06.2025
2. ALNAP (2018) The State of the Humanitarian System. ALNAP Study. London: ALNAP/ODI.
3. ALNAP(2021) Inception Report: The State Of The Humanitarian System (SOHS) – Fifth Edition (2018–2021), ALNAP:HELP Library, Downloaded from: https://www.alnap.org/help-library/the-state-of-the-humanitarian-system-fifth-edition-inception-report
4. Şafak-Ayvazoğlu, A., Kunuroglu, F., & Yağmur, K. (2021). Psychological and socio-cultural adaptation of Syrian refugees in Türkiye. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 80, 99-111.
5. Bakhit, A. A. (2014), Humanitarian Challenges: Perspectives from the South and Islamic Countries, Annual WFP Partnership Consultation, Rome
6. Barnett, M. (2011) Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Borton, J. (2009), Future of the Humanitarian System: Impacts of Internal Changes, Future of the Humanitarian System: Impacts of Internal Changes, Berkhamsted
7. Çataklı, İ; Taşdoğan, C. (2024) An Assessment of Syrian Migration and Turkey's Policies Towards Refugees/ Suriyeli Göçü ve Türkiye’nin Sığınmacılara Yönelik Politikaları Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi 26/1 (2024) pp.233-260
8. Davey, E.; Borton, J.; Foley, M. (2013) History of the Humanitarian System Western Origins and Foundations: HPG Working Paper, Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute, London

9. DFID(Department for International Development) (2017) Saving lives, building resilience, reforming the system: the UK government’s Humanitarian Reform Policy, [Online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/659965/UK-Humanitarian-Reform-Policy1.pdf, (Accessed: 15.04.2022) European Comission (2020) The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN): Offering a lifeline to vulnerable refugees in Türkiye, [Online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/emergency-social-safety-net-essn-offering-lifeline-vulnerable-refugees-Türkiye_en, (Accessed: 16.02.2022)
10. European Commission (2021) Türkiye; Factsheet, [Online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/where/europe/Türkiye_en, (Accessed: 16.02.2022) Gingerich, T. R.; Cohen, M. J. (2015) Turning the Humanitarian System on His Head: Saving lives and livelihoods by strengthening local capacity and shifting leadership to local actors, Oxfam Research Report, Oxfam America Gray Meral, A., Tong, M., Whitaker-Yilmaz, J., Saliji, T., Topgül, C. and Aslan, M. (2021) Refugee advocacy in Türkiye: from local to global, HPG working paper. London: Harvey, P.; Stoddard, A.; Harmer, A.; Taylor, G.; Didomenico, V.; Brander, L. (2010) The State of The Humanitarian System: Assessing Performance and Progress: A Pilot Study, ALNAP, Overseas Development Studies, London.
11. ICAI (2018) The UK’s approach to funding the UN humanitarian system: A performance review, The Independent Commission for Aid Impact , OGL, London Jensen, L. M. (2012). Humanitarian cluster leads: lessons from 4PLs. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
12. OCHA (2012) Humanitarian Principles, [Onine] Available at: https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/OOM-humanitarianprinciples_eng_June12.pdf (Accessed: 10.02.2022)
13. OCHA (2021) Global Humanitarian Overview 2021, [Online] Available at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/GHO-2021-Abridged-EN.pdf, (Accessed: 15.02.2022)
14. OCHA (2022) Global Humanitarian Overview 2022, [Online] Available at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Global%20Humanitarian%20Overview%202022.pdf, (Accessed: 15.02.2022)
15. OCHA (2022b) Türkiye | Syria: Border Crossings Status, [Online] Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/Türkiye-syria-border-crossings-status-01-jan-2022-enartr, (Accessed: 28.04.2022)
16. Khan, A., Khan, F. and Dewulf, A. with Mitchell. J. and Obrecht, A. (2021) Learning from Disruption: evolution, revolution, or status quo? ALNAP 2021 Meeting Background Paper. London Konydyk, J. (2019) Five Takeaways on the Future of Humanitarian Reform, CGD Note, Centre For Global Development
17. Koseoğlu, A. M.; Çevikel, G. (2014) Soft Power: Humanitarian Aid Refugees and Syrian Refugees in Türkiye/ Yumuşak Güç: İnsani Yardım ve Türkiye’de Suriyeli Mülteciler, Academic Perspective International Refereed Journal of Social Sciences/Akademik Bakış Uluslararası Hakemli Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, (43), Celalabat Muguruza, C. C. (2015) Towards more effective global humanitarian action: How the EU can contribute, European Parliament, DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT Rebecca Brubaker, Adam Day and Sophie Huvé, COVID-19 and Humanitarian Access: How the Pandemic Should Provoke Systemic Change in the Global Humanitarian System (New York: United Nations University, 2021) Refugees Association (2024) Social Cohesion (SUY) Program, [Online] available at: https://multeciler.org.tr/yabancilara-yonelik-sosyal-uyum-yardimi-programi-suy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com, (Accessed: 10.03.2025)
18. Şimşek, D. (2021) ‘“Winners and losers of neoliberalism”: the intersection of class and race in the case of Syrian refugees in Türkiye’, Ethnic and racial studies, 44(15), pp. 2816–2835 Sen (2020) Conceptual framework of Türkiye's humanitarian assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic, International Journal of Social Sciences and Education Research, Volume: 6(1), 2020, pp.140-149 YILMAZ, V. (2019) The Emerging Welfare Mix for Syrian Refugees in Türkiye: The Interplay between Humanitarian Assistance Programmes and the Turkish Welfare System, Journal of social policy, 48(4), pp. 721–739.
19. UNHCR (2021) Türkiye Information Note, [Online] Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/tr/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/10/Bi-annual-fact-sheet-2021-09-Türkiye-F-TR_rev.pdf, (Accessed: 14.02.2021) UNHCR (2025) Social And Financial Assistance, Help Türkiye, [Online] available at: https://help.unhcr.org/turkiye/social-economic-and-civil-matters/social-and-financial-assistance/, (Accessed: 10.03.2025)
20. TICY (2021) Türkiye Humanitarian Studies Yearbook-2020, Ed. Selman Salim Kesgin, Alparaslan Durmus, Turkish Crescent Association, Ankara.
21. TWF (The World Factbook), Explore All Countries: Syria, [Online] Available at: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/syria/, (Accessed: 28.04.2022) Toktaş, Ş.; Çiftçi, O.; Baygeldi, M. R.; Beşgül, B.; Dinçel, Y.; Öztürk, E. (2023) NEW SECURITY THREATS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 21ST CENTURY/ 21. YÜZYILIN İLK YARISINDA YENİ GÜVENLİK TEHDİTLERİ, Polis Akademisi Yayınları, Ankara
22. Walker, P. and Maxwell, D.G. (2008) Shaping the humanitarian world. Abingdon, U.K., Routledge
23. Yitmen, Ş. and Verkuyten, M. (2018) ‘Positive and negative behavioural intentions towards refugees in Türkiye : The roles of national identification, threat, and humanitarian concern’, Journal of community & applied social psychology, 28(4), pp. 230–243.
24. Yüksel, G. (2019) Humanitarian Organizations in Turkish Foreign Policy: Contributions, Motivations, Resources and Problems, Marmara University, Istanbul