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

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 67 - 78, 30.06.2025

Abdullah Önal

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

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