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Turkey: Annual Appeal No. 01.79/2004 Annual Report

Pays
Türkiye
Sources
IFRC
Date de publication

In Brief

Appeal No. 01.79/2004; Period covered: January - December 2004

Appeal target: The original appeal target was CHF 2,394,607 (USD 1.83 million or EUR 1.54 million); In June 2004, it was increased to CHF 2,454,816 (USD 1.95 million or EUR 1.6 million) to reflect the plan of action revised by the Federation in response to the developments in the national society and its impact on the progress of the original programme as well as a merger of the American Red Cross bi-lateral offic e with the Federation regional delegation in Ankara (see programme update no 1 at for more details

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals:

Turkey Annual Appeal 2004. For details, please see the website at http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?annual04/017904.pdf

Turkey Annual Appeal 2004 - Programme Update no.1. For details, please see the website at http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?annual04/01790401.pdf

Turkey Annual Appeal 2004 - Programme Update no.2. For details, please see the website at http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?annual04/01790402.pdf

Bingol Earthquake Emergency Appeal No. 09/2 003. For details, please see the website

Bingol Earthquake Interim Final Report. For details, please see the website

Overall analysis

2004 was a challenging year for the Turkish Red Crescent. The changing of its leadership and ongoing disputes between the new and the previous governance, has created a less than stable environment. Programmes suffered delays. Many middle level managers and staff members in the National Society were fired or replaced resulting in loss of continuity. The Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been closely monitoring the developments. Efforts were made to support the National Society to ensure the organisation functions in conformity with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement standards and rules. The Federation and the ICRC, through various communications with the Government, exerted efforts to defend the integrity and independence of the Turkish Red Crescent. The local authorities, however, did not respond to these efforts.

The controversy over the Turkish Red Crescent governance continued throughout the year. In July 2004, the Council of the State, based on a ruling of the Constitutional court, suspended the government's decree that removed the previous leadership and installed the provisional board in the Turkish Red Crescent at the beginning of the year. The ruling required the reinstallation of the elected board and is significant as it acknowledges the autonomy and independence of the national society. The court decision, however, has not yet been implemented. The situation remains unsettled, damaging the image of the National Society and affecting the ability of the Turkish Red Crescent to function at its full potential.

Despite obstacles, there has been a fair progress in supporting the National Society to strengthen its capacities to better serve vulnerable people. Noteworthy is the marked improvement in disaster management. The Turkish Red Crescent has become more proactive and has scaled-up its preparedness. In the past, the tendency was to be more reactive. This is changing. Through regular dialogue and engagement of the management, the National Society's understanding of modern disaster management concepts has significantly improved. The Turkish Red Crescent is well placed in terms of resources -- human, material, equipment and financial. Its staff now speak a common language with their counterparts in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, government and international agencies. Their skills and professionalism have been enhanced too. There is a better understanding and adherence to international standards/norms including the Federation working procedures in disaster response within or outside the country. Decentralization of disaster response and logistical centres to the selected sites, the initiation of public awareness activities and the recent efforts to embark on community-based programmes demonstrate the change in the approach of the Red Crescent to disaster management, which has been the Society's trademark since its establishment in 1868.

A coordinated engagement by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as other non-Movement partners has been supporting the Turkish Red Crescent. In 2004, there were two partner national societies in Turkey, the American and British Red Cross. They implemented bilateral programmes, mainly related to branch development and disaster preparedness that were in accordance with the priorities of the Turkish Red Crescent and fed into the Federation's support strategy. On 1 May 2004, the American Red Cross bi-lateral office completed a merger with the Federation regional delegation in Ankara and has since been functioning as an operational department within the existing delegation structure. This has ensured better coordination and increased cost-effectiveness too. The British Red Cross supported branch development in Erzurum, eastern Turkey. The project replenished stocks, upgraded a regional warehouse, improved IT to better track and record goods, and trained Red Crescent staff, volunteers and local communities in disaster preparedness. In September 2004, the British Red Cross completed its mission in Turkey.

The Federation maintained a regional office in Ankara to coordinate and facilitate Red Cross Red Crescent engagement in humanitarian action with multiple actors within the Movement as well as non-Movement partners. The delegation has played a brokering role through organising regular meetings with partners, ensuring knowledge sharing and analysis of situations to preserve consistency with the national society priorities. It represented Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from the region1, their policies and the issues that affect vulnerable people, on the international stage. Additionally, the Federation offered technical expertise to strengthen Red Cross Red Crescent capacities in the priority areas of disaster management, organisational development, financial management, logistics, planning, reporting, and the promotion of humanitarian values and the Fundamental Principles of the Movement. It provided training and helped organise workshops.

Note 1 The region comprises Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

For further information please contact:

- Turkish Red Crescent Society: email: tkd@kizilay.org.tr, phone: 90 312 4302300; fax: 90 312 430 0175.

- Carl Naucler, head of Federation's regional delegation in Ankara , email: ifrctr06@ifrc.org phone: 90 312 441 42 92; fax: 90 312 441 38 66 or Ervin Blau, regional programme coordinator, email: ifrctr36@ifrc.org phone: 90 312 441 42 92; fax: 90 312 441 38 6.

- Sylvie Chevalley, regional officer, Europe department, Federation, Geneva, email: sylvie.chevalley@ifrc.org phone: 41 22 730 4276; fax: 41 22 733 03 95

The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. The Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project. Please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

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