President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, penned an article titled "Compassion Beyond Borders: The Alliance of Civilisations and Humanitarian Diplomacy", written to mark 19 August World Humanitarian Day and published in El País, one of Spain’s leading newspapers.
Peace, security, and shared prosperity can only be achieved through a spirit of cooperation grounded in mutual respect, justice, and sincerity among peoples. Long-time friends standing at the two poles of the Mediterranean and members of two robust civilisations, Türkiye and Spain champion the same ideals. Today, along with our bilateral political relations, the momentum we have gained with Spain in the areas of economy, trade, energy, and the defence industry is of strategic importance for Euro-Mediterranean stability.
Spain stands among our most reliable allies within NATO. The Patriot Air Defence System, stationed in Adana, serves as a concrete and powerful testament to this. Spain's genuine support for our European Union (EU) accession process reflects the profundity of our shared objectives. We are committed to elevating this strategic partnership with firm measures, which we will jointly develop in response to regional and global challenges. On the 20th anniversary of the Alliance of Civilisations, our recognition of diversity as a source of richness rather than conflict offers a message of hope and solidarity to the oppressed people during this time of global crisis.
Wars, famine, irregular migration, and climate disasters have presented us with the most severe challenge in human history. Today, the harsh reality we face on World Humanitarian Day is that over 300 million people lack access to their most basic humanitarian needs. This is a truth that unsettles the conscience of humanity, urging the entire world to act with responsibility.
As Türkiye, guided by the vast tradition of providing humanitarian aid rooted in our history, the helping hand we extend in every region—regardless of the identity or faith of the oppressed—is the strongest expression of our commitment to upholding human dignity and giving voice to the conscience of humanity. In this sense, Spain is also a strong partner in this conscientious stance with its long-standing tradition of humanitarian aid.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again express my gratitude to all aid volunteers who arrived after the February 6 earthquakes, which we call the “Disaster of the Century”, particularly the search and rescue experts from Spain as well as the Spanish doctors, nurses, and technicians working at the field hospital established by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation in Hatay Arsuz.
As Türkiye, we act with the understanding that ”The suffering of one is a shared cry that resonates in the conscience of all of us." With our humanitarian diplomacy approach, we rank among the most generous nations in the world in terms of humanitarian aid relative to our gross national product. The United Nations (UN) World Humanitarian Summit, held for the first time in history in İstanbul in 2016, marked a significant milestone in the global confirmation of our position in the field of humanitarian assistance. Through AFAD, TİKA, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, and numerous non-governmental organisations, we touch the lives of millions—not only in times of crisis, but also through long-term development and solidarity projects.
Türkiye conducts humanitarian aid operations with devotion, in close cooperation with international organisations, not only in our immediate region, including Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, but also across a wide geography spanning from Asia to Africa, from the Middle East to the Balkans, and to Latin America.
Our country has never remained indifferent to the humanitarian crises unfolding in Africa, past or present. Our visit to Mogadishu in 2011, aimed at drawing attention to the severe drought disaster in Somalia and demonstrating our solidarity with the brotherly Somali people, resonated across the international community. Subsequently, we initiated a humanitarian aid mobilisation in collaboration with our public institutions and non-governmental organisations, providing enduring solutions for sustainable development through the irrigation systems we implemented.
We have extended support to Sudan by supplying vital food, medicine, medical supplies, and firefighting equipment in response to the challenging circumstances under which, according to UN data, more than 30 million individuals are in need of humanitarian assistance. The Turkish-Sudanese Training and Research Hospital in Nyala, established with the support of TİKA, operates as a significant health institution in the region. Additionally, we persist in our efforts to promote sustainable agriculture in Sudan.
Since 2017, we have been providing health services through the Turkish Field Hospital in Cox's Bazar, which is managed by AFAD, in addition to our humanitarian assistance to over one million Rohingya brothers and sisters who have sought refuge in Bangladesh as a result of the conflict in Myanmar. Since 2022, we have been providing food, shelter, medicine, and medical supplies in Afghanistan under the name of "Goodness Trains."
We supported sustainable development through agricultural projects and provided humanitarian aid in the most effective manner possible in the face of natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean, irrespective of geographical distance. Furthermore, we have extended assistance in the form of vaccines and medications to more than 160 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby illustrating one of the most tangible examples of global solidarity.
We safeguard the collective memory of humanity by restoring cultural heritage sites and conducting training in this field, and we offer scholarships in Türkiye to thousands of students from developing countries as a demonstration of our approach that integrates humanitarian aid with development and sustainability perspectives.
Israel's recent inhumane policies of siege, starvation and mass punishment in Gaza have trampled not only international law but also the conscience of humanity. The tragic loss of over 61,000 innocent lives and the displacement of more than 2 million individuals since October 7, who are deprived of essential humanitarian needs, has marked a dark stain on history. Türkiye has thus far provided over 101,000 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and has conducted a humanitarian mobilisation valued at more than 40 million dollars in support of UNRWA. We shall persevere in our endeavours to remain actively engaged on the ground through all available means to ensure that the Palestinian people attain a future that is free, dignified, and prosperous.
While the global crisis, geopolitical tensions, and conflicts the world faces present challenges to our humanitarian aid initiatives, we remain steadfast in our commitment to these efforts in every region where they are required. For humanitarian aid transcends political considerations, it is fundamentally a matter of conscience.
Humanitarian aid is the most advanced form of diplomacy, originating from a deep sense of empathy and humanity. Türkiye and Spain stand as two friendly nations and steadfast allies, united in their dedication to shared universal values across the Mediterranean, a region rich in historical significance and cultural heritage. The disaster drills we undertake within the framework of NATO, the humanitarian assistance provided to irregular migrants, and the mutual support extended during challenging times serve as tangible evidence of this brotherhood. The spirit of solidarity unites the two peoples in a profound bond that transcends geographical boundaries. It is our firm conviction that by collaborating in accordance with these shared principles, we will establish a fairer world focused on humanity and its values.