Türkiye, straddling Europe and Asia, is a nation of huge geopolitical importance. Türkiye’s strategic location means that humanitarian organisations are able to play a significant and active role in supporting crisis-hit communities from neighbouring countries.
Due to the war in Syria, Türkiye has been hosting the world’s largest refugee population: almost 3.2 million Syrians living under temporary protection (as well as close to 222,000 refugees and asylum seekers of other nationalities). However, the fall of the Assad regime in early December 2024 has prompted some returns from Syrians living in neighbouring countries, including from Türkiye.
A better world needs all of us. That’s why CAFOD has been working alongside partners in Türkiye since 2012. Together, we’ve been supporting Syrian refugees and others fleeing conflict throughout the Middle East, because all of us deserve the opportunity to flourish. Most recently, we’ve been responding to the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquake.
Our impact in 2024
We do not have ongoing programmes in Türkiye, except for our emergency response to 2023’s earthquake.
In 2024 we reached 14,569 people in Türkiye as part of a group of donors. Working together, we supported:
9,742 people with emergency food kits
4,138 people with emergency hygiene kits
694 people with winterisation kits, like blankets and heaters to stay warm.
What we do
CAFOD is the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
With your help, we reach out to people living in hard-to-reach places, in war zones and those who are discriminated against.