İhh İnsani yardım bülteni 46

Mankind should act for Syria!

Water wells bestow life

36

24

Welcome Ramadan

welcome to our world

humanitarian

46

JULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBER

ZiRAAT BANK TL 53535353-5064USD 53535353-5065EURO 53535353-5066

TRKiYE FiNANS BANKTL 777777-11USD 777777-116EURO 777777-118

POSTAL CODE 6230416

ACCOUNT NUMBERACCOUNT NUMBER

The regime forces who try to oppress the freedom call

of the people in Syria, are using weapons towards

armless civilians. During the recent events over a

thousand people are killed and tens of thousands of

people are injured, taken under custody and forced to

immigrate. It is time for solidarity with Syrian sisters

and brothers with our aid in cash and aid in kind.

Let's reach our hand out!

HUMANITY FOR

SYRIANOW

worthfor thehuman

worthfor thehuman

+90 212 631 2121www.ihh.org.tr

humanitarian editorialJuly - August - September 2011Issue: 46Owner on behalf of IHH Humanitarian Relief FoundationAtty F. Blent YILDIRIMExecutive EditorMurat YILMAZEditorAmine TUNA ERTRKEditorial BoardAhmet Emin DAH. Zehra ZTRKOsman ATALAYZeliha SALAMTranslationAdnan DemirCorrectorHaq GhaniDesignSYAHMARTI ADVERTISING Tel: +90 (216) 465 55 79PrintingMavi OfsetTel: +90 (212) 549 25 30AddressByk Karaman Caddesi Taylasan Sokak No: 3Fatih-STANBUL/TURKEYPhone: +90 (212) 631 21 21Fax: +90 (212) 621 70 [email protected]

Esteemed reader,In our 19th year we continue to traverse continents with our bags full of charity. We rush to the help of refugees, orphans, disaster victims, the homeless, and the aggrieved in 125 countries and regions from Ecuador to Japan, from Bosnia-Herzegovina to South Africa, from Syria to Libya. We take food and hope to shelters of refugees and tables of orphans families. We are brothers and we go on every charity trip with the belief that what we have will increase if we share it with our brothers. We ask about their situation and give them the message We are not alone, we are all together. In this Ramadan too we will be sharing what you have entrusted to us in 70 countries and regions and 70 cities in Turkey, acting with the same belief. As Ramadan draws near, preparations in regions where we will be organizing activities have been stepped up. It is sometimes a young child who has never been to school or an adult who has lived his life in the dark whom we reach out to with our cataract campaign. The water wells we dig in Africa and Asia bestow life on drought-stricken lands. A hidden friendly hand reaches in the darkness of the night to Syrian refugees who escaped to Lebanon to save their lives. Damascus, Homs and Hama come to mean what Istanbul, Bursa and Urfa mean to us. Orphanages and schools are built on swamps of less known Arakan, Pattani and Mindanao, and charity touches the human being thanks to our friends in volunteerism Our volunteers and donors who have devoted their time, labor and strength to spreading charity and have materialized hundreds of projects in cooperation with IHH are indispensable supporters to this charity movement that has covered the globe for 19 years. We start with our immediate surrounding; we help our relatives, friends and neighbors. Then we urge the world to partake in this movement with fundraising fairs, exhibitions, meetings, conferences, demonstrations, and marches. We know we are only in the beginning! We present the activities and projects we have realized over the past three months thanks to your support. With the hope of spreading the good hand in hand

We welcome Ramadan!

Gaza Freedom

Flotilla II Mankind shou

ld

act for Syria!

Touch the heart of an orphan,

share your compassion!


Daily hot meals to 7000

in Simav, Turkey

AGENDA SPOTLIGHT

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

04

31 36

48

1824

humanitarian

46

JULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBER

Maternity hospital

opened in Beit Hanoun

ACTIVITIES: We gathered with Ga

zan orphans 32

Picnic for orphans 32

Orphan Days in 17 countries 33

Help given to 581 refugee families

38

4th refugee picnic 38

Wheelchairs donated to refugee cam

ps 39

Emergency

aid to Misrata Cataract surge

ries

in Sierra Leone ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

FUTURE PROJECTS

IN BRIEF

PEOPLE OF

GOOD DEEDS

5054

68

2628

30

Permanent homes built for Pak

istani flood victims 40

Students given bikes to travel

to school 41

Ritual meat deliveries in 22 cit

ies and 5 countries 42

Afghanistan martyrs paid hom

age on anniversary 43

IHH publishes two books on th

e anniversary of the Gaza Flotil

la raid 44

PEDAL activists visit IHH 45

Mavi Marmara programs in In

donesia and Malaysia 45

IN THE FIELD: Lets make or

phans happy 58

A usual day at the IHH eye hos

pital in Sudan 62

Salamatszb Kyrgyzstan 66

Lbnandan Pataniye yetim gnleri

Ramadan

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Ramadanagenda agenda

RamadanRamadanagendaagendaagendaagendaagenda

RamadanRamadan

Welcome Ramadan

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

welcome to our

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RamadanRamadanagendaagendaagendaagenda

RamadanRamadan

If we were asked how IHH spent the last 19 Ramadan holidays, we would say we tried to reach out to everyone that needed us around the world; we put our love into food packs, and delivered them to people in need. We would also say we tried to be the hope of refugees who were trying to survive despite all their hardships. We prepared suhoor together in the refugee tents, and shared our bread with them. We performed ablutions at thousands of water wells that we had dug in 18 African countries, where water is con ned to great depths, and then performed morning prayers together. We did all we could to extend a hand to tens of thousands of children orphaned by wars, natural disasters and other catastrophes. We supported and continue to support 18,600 children in 29 countries with sponsor a family system. We worked to help them receive free education and live independently. We gifted stationery sets and clothes at Eid to children

we had been supporting with your donations. We travelled long distances and passed through treacherous paths; we reached the hearts of many in desolate villages. We visited and sympathized with 52,000 cataract patients whom we helped to recover their vision. We also arranged for 165,987 patients to undergo eye examination in the Africa Cataract Campaign. If we were asked how we spent the last 19 Ramadans, we would say we set up iftar tents and shared our meals, using our mobile kitchen trailer, with many people who could not a ord a meal. We performed tarawih prayers, praying for a world ruled by peace and justice in the mosques we built in 28 countries worldwide. We crossed great distances every Ramadan to help people. Strengthened by our past we shared the pain of those su ering. We heard numerous stories of occupation, oppression,

loneliness, desperation We wanted to give them hope and their stories to have happy endings. With your help and cooperation we searched for and found solutions to their problems and shared them with you, our esteemed volunteers. Like every other month of Ramadan, this year we will be with little Necip the Arakanese refugee, with Sadina who is studying at summer school in the Balkans, with Philip who is living in an earthquake tent in South America, with Rara who is pulling water from a well in Africa, with Hasan who has lived in darkness all his life because of cataract, with Samina who has no access to school and with Palestinian Muhammad who has no access to hospital. Th ere is still a long way to go and lots of charity work to do in cooperation with you. We have asked more and more of you, our volunteers and with your help we are on our way to creating a better world and to leaving a positive mark behind.


Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

IHH RAMADAN 2011 As part of the 2011 Ramadan campaign we will be organizing iftar dinners, delivering education to orphans and children in need. We will also be distributing food packs to refugees, elderly people and needy families in 70 countries and regions around the world as well as 70 provinces in Turkey. On the 19th anniversary of the establishment of IHH, our goal for this years Ramadan campaign is, like every year, to visit hundreds of homes in ve continents, extend a hand to orphans and to embrace the elderly and the homeless. Th is Ramadan we want to knock on the doors of more and more people in need and continue sharing goodness with your help and donations.

Orphans We are caring for children who have lost their either one or both parents to war, disaster or other calamities. IHH is funding 18,600 orphans in 29 countries and like any other Ramadan, we are giving top priority to orphans; by organising iftar dinners for them, presenting them with clothes for Eid, and providing food packs to their families.

Welcome Ramadan

welcome to

our world

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

Migrants/Refugees Millions of people around the globe who have been forced to leave their homes because of war, occupation and natural disaster are living in desperate conditions. Refugees are striving to survive with limited or no access to employment, food, education, healthcare and accommodation. Th ey are dependent on continuous aid. IHH is delivering humanitarian aid to refugee camps and tents this Ramadan as well. Families in need Imbalances caused by wars, natural disasters or political, economic and social factors have left many people around the world at risk of poverty. IHH, which has been helping deprived people for almost two decades, delivers your donations (ranging from food to clothing, education and healthcare) to families in need.

Elderly people in need We visit and ful ll the needs of elderly people who have no one to look after them or those who have to live alone due to di erent circumstances.


Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

IHH will be carrying out activities in 70 provinces in Turkey as part of the 2011 Ramadan campaign. We will support hard-up brothers and sisters, and create new projects to solve their problems. Our foundation will deliver zakat and donations to people in need in regions hit by war, disaster and poverty. This years Ramadan campaign includes:1. You can pay for a food packA food pack costs TL 60.2. You can o er iftar meals at our mobile kitchen trailerTh e cost of one meal is TL 5.3. You can donate cash to orphans or buy clothes for themTh e cost of clothing a child is TL 70.4. You can give your zakat and alms donations to people in need through IHH5. You can pay for students educational expensesTh e cost of a stationery set is TL 25.

IHH 2011 Ramadan Turkey

You can receive detailed information about donating online at: www.ihh.org.tr or by calling us on: +90212 631 2121.4. You can give your zakat and alms donations to people in need through IHH4. You can give your zakat and alms donations to people in need through IHHabout donating online at: www.ihh.org.tr or by calling us on: +90212 631 2121.

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

1. You can pay for a food packIHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation will distribute food packs in a number of countries and regions as well as in Turkey. A food pack contains: Wheat our, tea, olives, cooking oil, tomato sauce, salt, jam, powdered sugar, lentils, chickpeas, bulgur, dried beans, rice, macaroni, and halva. You can meet food needs of as many families as you wish with food packs that contain the above mentioned food items. A food pack costs TL 60.

2. You can o er iftar meals at our mobile kitchen trailer IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation will organize iftar dinner programs with its mobile kitchen trailer in 70 cities of Turkey.You can also fund an entire iftar program at the kitchen trailer or pay for one meal or more. Th e cost of one meal is TL 5.

3. You can donate cash to orphans or buy clothes for them Orphans and their families in Turkey and abroad will be supported this Ramadan. Iftar meals will be provided for them, educational aid will be extended, and clothes will be given to them for Eid. If necessary, orphans will be given cash donations. You can buy Eid clothes for as many orphans as you wish.Our orphan support activities are carried out on a continuous and periodical basis. You can support a child who has been orphaned for at least a year with the Sponsor Family System.

Th e cost of clothing a child is TL 70.

4. You can give your zakat and alms donations to people in need through IHHIHH delivers zakat, alms, trana, and other donations to people in need in war, occupation and disaster zones anywhere in the world. You can give your zakat and alms donations to people in need through IHH.5. You can pay for students educational expensesWith the 2011 Ramadan campaign, IHH delivers educational tools and equipment to needy students around the world to support their education. You can pay for stationery sets to be given to poor students. Th e cost of a stationery set is TL 25.

Food Banking Institutions and commercial companies can donate through food banking and deduct these donations from tax as expense. Foodstu s, hygiene kits, clothes and fuel donations of institutions and commercial companies are treated as contributions to the food bank. For your donations to be considered in this category, you have to invoice these donations and make out the invoice and delivery note to the name of IHH. Th e types of donations listed above have to be invoiced over purchasing price.

Make children happy with special packages.

Ramadan Junior Package that includes books, candies, chocolates, biscuits and balloons, costs TL 15.


Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

In 70 countries and regions

COUNTRY / REGION FOOD PACK DISTRIBUTION IFTARSTATIONERY

DISTRIBUTION ORPHAN

AFRICA

Burkina Faso Djibouti Chad Ethiopia Ivory Coast Ghana Liberia Cameroon Kenya Somalia Malawi Tanzania Uganda Mauritania Rwanda Madagascar Sudan

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan Bangladesh Th ailand-Patani Philippines-Moro Sri Lanka Nepal Jammu Kashmir Azad Kashmir Indonesia-Aceh Vietnam Myanmar

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AFRICA Palestine (Gaza, West Bank) Syria Lebanon Iraq Turkey Yemen Jordan Egypt Libya Tunisia

COUNTRY / REGION FOOD PACK DISTRIBUTION IFTARSTATIONERY

DISTRIBUTION ORPHAN

CAUCASUS CENTRAL ASIA Azerbaijan Georgia Adjara Akhaltsikhe Crimea Abkhazia Dagestan Ingushetia Chechnya Kabardino-Balkar Karachay-Cherkess Ossetia Adygea

CENTRAL ASIA Tajikistan Tatarstan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Mongolia Afghanistan

EUROPE AMERICAS

Bosnia-Herzegovina Macedonia Kosova Albania Bulgaria Romania Hungary Serbia-Sandjak Montenegro Cuba Haiti Equador Peru

Countries and regions included in overseas Ramadan organization

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

in 70 cities of Turkey

AdanaAdyamanAfyonkarahisarArAksarayAnkaraAntalyaArdahanArtvinAydnBalkesirBartnBatmanBayburtBinglBitlisBoluBurdur

BursaanakkaleankrorumDenizliDiyarbakrDzceElazErzincanErzurumEskiehirGaziantepGiresunGmhaneHatayIspartazmirzmit

KahramanmaraKarabkKaramanKarsKastamonuKayseriKrehirKilisKonyaKtahyaMalatyaManisaMardinMersinMuNevehirNideOrdu

OsmaniyeRizeSakaryaSamsunSiirtSinopSivasanlurfaTekirdaTokatTrabzonUakVanYalovaYozgatZonguldak

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

Ramadan is undoubtedly a month of worship, compassion and blessing for the whole Muslim world. But it is also a month of awareness. In the modern world in which bodily pleasures are at the forefront, Ramadan is a time when the faithful pull away from the established order and reinvigorate the spirit; a time when they become wholly aware of their servitude to Allah, when this awareness is strengthened and revived. Th e Holy Quran points to such a state of awareness with the verse: O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint (al-Baqara 2/183). Ittiqa, which in a sense means abstaining from wrongdoing and guarding oneself against sins, is in fact to act with the concern of losing divine favor, which comes only with awareness and consciousness of ones servitude. As a matter of fact, Muhammad Asad interpreted the rst part of the verse as So you would become aware of your obligations to Allah. All divine duties prescribed on human beings are undoubtedly a means to help the individual to achieve awareness of his servitude to Allah. In this sense, rituals are necessary for the man and he needs to elevate his soul with rituals. However, the

mention of ittiqa as a reason for the prescription of fasting indicates that fasting has a special role in reaching awareness of servitude. With fasting an individual manages to say no to his bodily pleasures between certain hours of the day for a whole month; empowers his will and disciplines his self by eating little and simply at iftar (breaking of fast). Th us he re ects on his soul, listens to his conscience and nds the chance to discover the meaning of his existence and thereby rediscovers that he is a servant to Allah. Rituals that are performed in Ramadan in addition to performing tarawih prayers (reciting the Quran, retreating to a mosque for contemplation (itikaf)) play a signi cant role in reaching such a heightened state of awareness. In the blessed month of Ramadan a Muslim individual realizes his existence within the owing order, senses his liberation by being a servant to Allah, learns to appreciate blessings bestowed upon him, as well as shaking o sel shness and coming to realize the existence of others. In fact, nding ones self leads

to realization of others existence and needs. In this heightened awareness, achieved through fasting, one notices not only the existence of others but also their condition and needs. For instance a rich person who has never experienced hunger, even for a short time, comes to understand the situation of the poor better by fasting all day, and this strengthens his inclination to help and donate to the needy and the deprived. Th us social

Ramadan as a month of awareness(Assoc Dr Hlya ALPER)

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadansolidarity strengthens in Ramadan and the brotherhood of Islam nds its true meaning. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ordering Muslims to give sadaqah al- tr in Ramadan is another ritual that strengthens social solidarity. Assigning the timing of the zakat ritual, which could be ful lled at any time of year, to the month of Ramadan is an example of this spirit of solidarity. With its rich spiritual contributions to personal and social life, Ramadan is an awaited and longed for month for the faithful. To feel this longing an individual must, of course, have reached a certain level of faith. To people who have not reached this level of heightened awareness the month of fasting might be considered a month of hardship and di culty. Maybe it is because of this fact that fasting was prescribed on the faithful after prayer and zakat, in the years when believers had reached a certain level of awareness of servitude. Th ere is a reciprocal circular relation between faith and fasting, as is the case with all rituals. Faith urges the

individual to fast and in return fasting guards the faith and strengthens its value. Celebrating the end of Ramadan as a feast (Eid) is not to celebrate leaving behind fasting but to rejoice at newly reached spiritual richness. If fasting does not help us raise our multifaceted awareness, then it is just limited to stopping eating, drinking and restraining lust. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave advice to believers on how to attain maturity in fasting. In one of his sayings he advises Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person fasting. (Bukhari, Sawm Book 006, Number 2566). Fasting without attention to these points is, in Imam Ghazalis words, fasting of the common In other words, it is the lowest form of fasting. Th ose at higher levels of faith guard all their organs against sins. Th ose at the highest level break their ties with the world and turn to Allah. Fasting of such people passes with re ecting

on Allah (Ghazali, Ihya, Beirut 2000, I, 314). Although Ghazali does not reject the lowest form of fasting in this categorization, it should be noted that certain scholars have di erent interpretations on this topic. Ibn Hazm, for instance, thinks every deliberate haram act breaks the fast. Scholars such as Sufyan al-Sawri and al-Awzai have ruled that lying and back-biting break the fast and therefore re-ful lling is required (. K Dnmez, Oru TDV DA, XXXIII, 422.). Although the majority of Muslim scholars do not agree with these interpretations, they highlight the need and signi cance of paying utmost attention to abiding by orders and prohibitions and acting virtuously. A Ramadan that is spent in accordance

with these guidelines turns into a month where self-criticism is made, moral virtue is attained, a sort of religious in-service training is performed, and social solidarity and brotherhood are strengthened. Only then does Ramadan cease to be a month of entertainment and feasting, and nds its true spiritual meaning. And so Ramadan nds its true meaning depending on Muslims e ort and enthusiasm. InshAllah we hope that we all experience a Ramadan in which we increase our awareness with such e orts Ameen

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

We had little water at suhoor because we had forgotten to pull some from the well. My mother shared the water amongst us. I am very thirsty but I can stand it, because my mother said we are invited to iftar in the evening. Th is is the rst time I will be going to an iftar program. Muslims of Turkey have arranged this iftar dinner. My siblings, mother, we all will attend it. I wish my father could see this too. We are going to be very crowded at the iftar. I am very excited. My mother said they are going to give us enough foodstu s for a whole month. I am curious about them. My father used to say Allah wants Muslims to help each other. If my father was alive he would also come to the iftar and would be happy about it. I wish Ramadan would never end and these good people would not leave us. Somali, MogadishuSomaya Osman Ali, 1993

WELCOME RAMADAN, WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

Turkey, IstanbulAysel Cengiz, 1970

I am away from home this Ramadan. I left my children with my mother. I and my friends had collected money among ourselves and handed it to IHH to buy Eid clothes for orphans in Albania. Th ey told me I would be giving clothes to the orphans myself. To be with dozens of children like my children As I think over the di culty of taking the responsibility of looking after my children all by myself, I am even more impressed by the strength of the mothers of these children. Th e complacency of the children, even when they are deprived of paternal a ection and protection, makes me bond with them even more and I feel safe and at home although I am away from my home and my children. Maybe all these feelings are because I am a guest in these peoples hearts Tonight we will all be at iftar together and I will pray for everybody I love on this wonderful occasion. I will pray for two uncles named Faruk and Bahaddin on the rst day of Ramadan. In fact I will pray for them the whole Ramadan. Th ey had visited us last year. Th ey were going to build a new orphanage for us and that is why they were here. I had never met such good people. Uncle Faruk had stroked my head and sat by my side. I wish he would never leave, I had said to myself. Th is year some other people will be coming from where he came. I am very happy this Ramadan because we are going to have iftar together. I wish uncle Faruk could come too. I really would like to see him again. I wonder if there are more people like him and would like to meet them very much.Afghanistan, KunduzMansoor Mohammed, 1999

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

Our land is fertile and our hearts are big. Guests are a blessing from Allah. Th e last Ramadan was very blessed thanks to our guests. Our children had a good time with the guests coming from far away. Th at happy occasion is once again with us, as we have guests this Ramadan too. We will cook our meals and share iftar dinner with them; our blessings will increase. We will pray together for the continuation of such good unions and better days for all Muslims.

Our history dates back to very old times. We were once one of the strongest Muslim kingdoms of Asia. We were, in those days, a nation living peacefully in our land. Th ose peaceful days, when Patani was independent, are history now. Th e reason for that is British colonialism and lack of unity among Muslims Every inch of our land is occupied now. We have no security and are deprived of most of our rights. We long for the days of freedom in our ancestors times. Th ankfully, there are now Muslims who have heard our sad story and have come from far away to help. Th ey visit us every Ramadan and support us. We have an iftar dinner with them tonight. We are very happy about their visiting us every year. Our children rejoice at events the visitors organize and we do not feel alone then. We have found the unity we lost.Patani, Jala Necip Ahmed, 1979

Abkhazia, Gudauta Amine Gurbanova, 1955

Ramadan

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RamadanRamadan

Iraq, ErbilIbrahim Ashwan, 1969No one understood us. We were left to su er under occupation for years. Th ese lands havent seen peace and security for many years. However we kept our solemnity, resisted and did not leave our land. Many generations grew up on this land under oppression, occupation and war, but we never lost our hope for a better future. We were hearing supportive voices even when we were in di cult conditions. Th e rst support came from the people of Turkey. It has always been they who cared for us, remembered us and shared our pain. What could others do? All Muslim nations of the Middle East were in the same situation, but we were more lonely and away from the eyes of the world. Th ey come every Ramadan and share iftar dinners with us and celebrate the Eid festival together with us.

I had visitors from another country this Ramadan. Th ey are the ones who built the orphanage where my sons are staying. Th eir color, language and clothes are very di erent and foreign. When they greeted me, my worries were gone, because they were giving greetings as we do. I was no longer worried about these alien people. Th ey greeted and embraced me as if we knew each other. Th ey embraced my children like their own children; they were very compassionate towards them. I could not understand their compassionate attitude. Th ey said we share the same religion, we are brothers and sisters. We sat at the same table, had iftar together and prayed together. In return for their e orts to save my children they only asked for my prayers. Oh Lord, thank you for this blessing and health Bangladesh, Kutupalong (Arakanese refugee camp)Maungg Wan, 1981

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Flotilla II

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Flotilla IIFlotilla II

GazaLocated on the Mediterranean coast in western Palestine, the Gaza Strip is under control of the elected government of Hamas. In this narrow 360 square-metre strip of land that has a length of 41 km and a width varying between 6 and 12 km live 1.5 million people. It is possible to reach the Gaza Strip from sea without entering territorial waters of any sovereign country.

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Flotilla II

Freedom Flotilla II gets underway with the support of millions! The embargo on Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it has engendered faced a worldwide reaction in the wake of the Freedom Flotilla I that was organized in May 2010 but could not reach Gaza due to Israels attack. Conscientious people around the world banded together against the unlawful actions of Israel. Activists in scores of countries ranging from Latin America to the Far East came together in support of humanity. Th e Freedom Flotilla II

that is being organized by 22 main worldwide organizations is setting sail with hundreds of participants from 100 countries. Th ey are heading for Gaza which has been under blockade for ve years. Th is second otilla will have 15 vessels compared to last years that had only seven. Th e vessels will be carrying materials such as medications, medical supplies, educational materials, play grounds and construction materials for the use of the residents of Gaza. Th e Freedom Flotilla II that could be

considered a voice for global conscience is set to sail with writers, artists, journalists, academics, craftsmen and members of di erent vocations. Th ey have di erent languages, religions and ethnicities. Th e otilla that aims to build a future of hope and peace is sailing for 1.5m Palestinians in blockaded Gaza. Th ey are hoping to bring freedom to Gaza in particular and all other people around the world who are under captivity and whose rights have been usurped.

Organizers of Freedom Flotilla II:1 Bateau Suisse pour Gaza (Switzerland) 9. Italia Freedom Flotilla (Italy) 17. Irish Ship to Gaza (Ireland)2 Belgium to Gaza (Belgium) 10. Nederlands Boat to Gaza (Netherlands) 18. Malaysian Humanitarian Sail (Malaysia)3. Canada Boat to Gaza (Canada) 11. Rumbo a Gaza (Spain) 19. Britain to Gaza (Britain)4. Deutch Initiative zum Bruch der Gazablockade (Germany) 12. Ship to Gaza Greece (Greece) 20. Asia to Gaza (India)5. European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza 13. Ship to Gaza Norway (Norway) 21. Ship to Gaza Indonesia (Indonesia)6 Free Gaza Movement 14. Ship to Gaza Sweden (Sweden) 22. Free Gaza Movement (Denmark)7 Free Gaza Scotland (Scotland) 15. US Boat to Gaza (USA)8 IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation (Turkey) 16. Un bateau pour Gaza (France)

Imposed in 2006 and tightened since 2007, the embargo on Gaza remains in place. Th e United Nations Fact Finding Mission declared the Gaza embargo unsustainable. Th e UN Mission report shows that 61 percent of households in Gaza are at risk of hunger and that the embargo is causing devastating damage to social life. Embargo unsustainable

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Flotilla II

Commemorative programs for Mavi Marmara raid well received across Turkey

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Th e Gaza Freedom Flotilla that had set sail to end the inhuman embargo on Gaza and support the resistance of the Gazan people was halted by Israel with a bloody raid on 31 May 2010. A year has passed since the attack but memories are still fresh. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation organized week-long commemoration events across Turkey to draw attention to the ongoing embargo on Gaza and to condemn the Israeli attack on its anniversary. Th e rst event held was kite- ying. In Sarayburnu, Istanbul, 1500 kites were own for Free Palestine. Participants from all age groups ew kites painted in the colors of Mavi Marmara and the Palestinian ag. Kites 1.5 metres long were designed specially for the nine martyrs who lost their lives in the raid. A series of commemorative programs were also held across Turkey. IHH executives and scores of citizens attended public programs in the cities of Adana, Adyaman, Ankara, Antalya, Batman, Bolu, orum, Denizli,

Diyarbakr, Elaz, Bursa, skenderun, zmir, Kahramanmara, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Kbrs, Malatya, Samsun, Siirt, Tekirda, Tokat, Yalova and Yozgat. Mavi Marmara martyrs were paid homage with art exhibitions, fairs, conferences and various contests. Th e Quran was recited at Sultanahmet Mosque in memory of the martyrs and their graves were visited. Photo exhibits displayed at 25 di erent places in Istanbul drew considerable interest from city residents. Memorial activities were arranged at a number of universities and schools. Hundreds of students presented pictures, poems and essays at IHH held contests with a Mavi Marmara theme. IHH commemorative program ended with a march on the night of 30th May. Th ousands of people with torches marched from Tnel in Taksim up to the square passing through stiklal Avenue. Dozens of activists from di erent countries took part in the march.

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A year has passed since the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters. Commemorative events on the anniversary of the attack began with kite- ying at Sarayburnu, Istanbul. Th e 1500 kites decorated with Palestinian ags, pictures of the Mavi Marmara boat and photographs of the nine activists martyred onboard the Mavi Marmara, were distributed to participants free of charge.Kites own for Free Palestine

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Uprisings for rights and freedom that broke out in North Africa have also spread to Syria which has been ruled by Assad regime, for many years. Syrians have been demanding justice, freedom and equality in street protests since the 15th of March this year. Th e Syrian government turned a deaf ear to popular demands for reform and opted to suppress protests violently, committing massacres reminiscent of the Hama and Homs massacres in previous years. Reports say that many besieged cities, are cut o from the rest of the world by the army, which remains loyal to the government. Over 30,000 people have been wounded and at least 1500 have been killed over the last four months. Th e fate of 3000 disappeared Syrians is still unknown. Th ousands of

Syrians eeing the violence have been displaced within the country or have ed to neighboring countries. IHH has been closely following recent developments in Syria and has been undertaking feasibility studies on the Turkey-Syria border since the crisis rst broke out. IHH has initiated relief works inside Syria as well as at refugee camps in Lebanon and Hatay in Turkey. Following food aid to 400 families that had sought refuge in the Wadi Khaled area, IHH delivered 6.5 tons of foodstu s and medication to the Syrian refugees. Most of these refugees ed the violence in Jisr al-Shugur for camps in Gvei and Grenta,

villages of Hatay. On 20 June a mobile kitchen trailer that can provide daily hot food for 10,000 people and an emergency relief trailer carrying 600,000 Turkish liras worth of clothes for women, men and children, were dispatched to the camps. Th e amount of IHH aid to Syrian refugees reached 1 million Turkish liras as of 1 June.

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IHH aid workers have been carrying out relief work in Libya since 21 February, where over 10,000 people have been killed and towns have been devastated by bombardment since the start of the uprising. Th e foundation continues to send humanitarian aid to the country as part of the Libya Emergency Relief Campaign. Th e cargo vessel Irmak which was dispatched from Zeyport in Istanbul in April, delivered 682 tons of humanitarian supplies to the Libyan people. Th e cargo of a 50-bed mobile hospital, medications, medical supplies, powdered milk, diapers, and foodstu s was unloaded at Misrata Port. Th e aid was distributed to people in need in cooperation with local partner agencies. Stores, houses and markets are being ransacked in heavily bombarded Misrata. Certain parts of the city are without electricity. Clean drinking water is in high demand since Gadda forces have released sewage waters into drinking water reservoirs. Th e amount of IHH aid in Libya reached 7 million Turkish liras as of June.

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Half of the 12 million African people with eye problems su er from cataract. Th ere is usually one doctor per 40,000 inhabitants in countries located in the Saharan Belt such as Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia among others. Millions of people die without seeing a doctor all their life. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation launched a project in 2007 to perform cataract surgeries with the slogan Th ey Need You to See and has been bringing people out of darkness with your donations since then. Sierra Leone has been added to the list of countries such as Benin, Ghana, Chad, Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia where cataract surgeries are conducted. In cooperation with our partner organization Wellington Muslim Association, 2330 persons were given eye examinations in Lunsar, a town three hours from the capital Freetown. Th ereafter 500 of them underwent cataract surgery.In the Africa Cataract Campaign, 157,127 people have been screened for eye problems as of June 2011; 51,787 people were operated on and brought to light. A cataract surgery costs TL 120 and the project is nanced by charitable people from Turkey.

Cataract surgeries in Sierra Leone

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In early May IHH completed furnishing a maternity hospital built on 800 square-metres in Beit Hanoun, a city in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. Th e hospital, that will serve residents of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and Jabalia on the Egypt border, has 50 beds and can o er ambulatory treatment to 150-200 patients. Th e hospital in Beit Hanoun plays a vital role for the area where 350,000 people live and which is cut o from the rest of Gaza during clashes. Maternity hospital opened in Beit Hanoun, Gaza

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Touch the heart of an orphan, share

your compassion! IHH has been supporting children who have been made orphan in war, natural disaster and poverty zones, since 1992. Th e objective of IHH orphan care is to support orphans who are not able to stand on their own feet until they have become self-su cient, to provide their education, and prepare them for life with the compassion of a family. Th e ongoing Sponsor Family project of IHH brings together orphans living with their relatives or in orphanages with charitable people from Turkey. Two more countries are now covered by the Sponsor Family project in which sponsoring families support an orphan by donating TL 70 per month for at least a year. As of May 2011, 50 orphans in anlurfa, 50 in Siirt cities of Turkey, 50 in Mauritania and 50 in Djibouti were added to the project. Th e number of orphans cared for in Turkey with the project rose to 1500 and the global number reached 18,600. Th e number of countries covered by the project rose from 27 to 29 and the number of Turkish cities rose to 24.

50 orphans in anlurfa, 50 in Siirt cities of Turkey, 50 in Mauritania and 50 in Djibouti were added to the project . Th e number of orphans cared for in Turkey with the project rose to 1500 and the global number reached 18,600.

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T he ten top orphans in Th is is My World photography contest held in Gaza in December 2010 were brought to Turkey as part of Orphan Days program. Th e orphans had trips to Bursa, Ankara and Istanbul and attended various programs. Th ey paid visits to a number of government bodies. Th ey also got a chance to meet their sponsor families. A picnic was arranged in Istanbul for the orphans we are supporting. Th e picnic at Beykoz was participated in by 250 orphans and their families. Th e orphans enjoyed themselves with a number of fun activities and received presents for their report cards.

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IHH reached out to hundreds of orphans in 17 countries and 27 cities in Turkey with the rst of Orphan Days. Th e teams of IHH personnel, volunteers/donors and press representatives visited the regions where orphan activities are carried out. Depending on the needs of the region a range of activities were undertaken such as distribution of clothes, stationery sets, mattresses, blankets, and foodstu s, health screenings, wedding and circumcision organization, meeting the needs of orphanages and donations to families of orphans (sewing machines, sesame grinding machines, dairy cattle, etc). Th e Orphan Days organization was bene cial; in addition to materialization of projects directed at orphans, in terms of overseeing and reporting orphan activities of partner organizations in the regions visited and making suggestions to these organizations regarding prospective orphan activities.

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capital Ouagadougou.14. Somalia: As part of a project to support families of orphans, families of 20 orphans were donated sewing machines, 10 sesame grinding machines, and 20 dairy cattle, while 10 families were provided funds to open small markets. 15. Pakistan: Mass wedding was organized for 20 orphans in Muza argarh. IHH volunteers from Bursa, Turkey also took part in the wedding ceremony. 16. Moro: IHH inaugurated the Hac erefolu Orphanage in Mindanao, the Philippines, where armed con ict between the Muslim people and the Philippine government rages on. In May 2001, an additional building was added to the orphanage complex that houses orphans aged between 5 and 11. Th e additional building was nanced by volunteers from Baakehir, Istanbul. During the opening ceremony 49 shares of Qurban were slaughtered and distributed to people in need; 100 orphans were also given clothes. 17. Turkey: IHH volunteers from Diyarbakr and Afyon gathered with 100 orphaned children and their relatives at a lunch. Bursa Humanitarian Relief Association organized an orphans support night. Chechen and Gazan orphans attended the event.IHH volunteers from Kayseri visited orphan children who lost their parents in the massacre that took place in Bilge village in Mazda, Mardin on 4 March 2009. Th e volunteers gave clothes, shoes and

1. Sudan: Clothing aid to 300 orphans in Darfur.2. Ethiopia: Clothes and educational sets were given to 410 orphans in Langano, Bale and Robe; 750 orphans underwent health screening and a picnic was arranged for 410 orphans.3. Albania: Clothes and stationery sets were given to 400 orphans. 4. Lebanon: Clothes were distributed to 100 Lebanese orphans in Beirut, Saida, Bakaa and Tripoli, and to 900 Palestinian orphans in refugee camps. 5. Kyrgyzstan: Food and clothing aid was delivered to Bishkeks Uckun Orphanage where 26 orphans are staying. Clothes, shoes, toys, books (major works in Kyrgyz children literature) were given to 65 orphans staying at Cal Orphanage, another Bishkek-based orphanage; interior furnishing of the orphanage building (television set, iron and kitchenware) was completed. Th e IHH team handed a cash donation and aid in kind to families of the orphans. 6. Tanzania: Health screening was provided to 350 orphans in Zanzibar with the help of our volunteer doctors. Th e medical team of three doctors and two laboratory technicians examined the orphans and carried out blood tests. Th e orphans with medical problems will be treated at the state hospital in Zanzibar. Th e others whose illnesses could be cured with medication were given medication after examination.

7. Iraq: Clothes were given to 2000 orphans in Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk and Mosul. As part of the project Smile 280 orphans in Kirkuk were taken to an amusement park and were pleased with gifts and attendance to performances. Th e IHH team paid a visit to Iraqi vice president Tariq al-Hashimi and the Diyala Governor and informed them about IHH activities. 8. Bangladesh: In the camps housing Arakanese refugees, 200 orphans underwent health screening. Some of the examined orphans will undergo cataract surgery; the others will be given spectacles or medications. Circumcision was organized for 200 orphans and a mass wedding for another 200.9. Th ailand-Patani: Clothes and stationery sets were given to 400 orphans; foodstu s were delivered to the families of 50 orphans. Foundations were laid for an orphanage that will house 100 orphans. 10. Afghanistan: Clothes and stationery sets were distributed to 607 orphans, while another 487 underwent health screening.11. Chad: Mattresses and blankets were provided to 80 orphans in the capital NDjamena. 12. Palestine-Gaza: Clothes, stationery sets and various presents were given to 500 orphans.13. Burkina Faso: Clothes and shoes were distributed to 80 orphans in the

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toys to 78 orphans there. Meanwhile, Kayseri Humanitarian Relief Association held World Orphan Day Erciyes Festival at Erciyes Mountain. Th e 200 orphans sponsored by the association and their families took part in the program. IHH volunteers from Adyaman organized a catered meeting for orphans in the city of Batman. Th e volunteers gathered with 50 orphans and their families, and gave stationery

sets, books and toys to the children.IHH volunteers of Adana gathered with orphans at breakfast. Th e orphans were given books and toys. Th e 169 orphan children, who are cared for by the volunteers and their families, attended the breakfast. IHH volunteers of Konya organized a charity fair in support of a new 100-person capacity

orphanage being built in Pattani. IHH volunteers of Ankara organized a breakfast party for 82 orphans who they are sponsoring as part of the project Put a Smile on the Face of a Hundred Orphans.A program held by IHH volunteers in Erzincan brought together 70 orphans and homeless children. Clothes, books, toys and various gifts were given to the children.In a program organized by volunteers in skenderun, Hatay and partly nanced by volunteers from Ankara, orphans were taken on a city tour. Th ey were given shoes, clothes and stationery sets. At orphan days in anlurfa, 75 orphans were handed toys, clothes and stationery sets. Books and toys were given to orphans in separate programs held in Ankara, Batman, Kahramanmara, Ar, Erzurum, stanbul, Bingl, Zonguldak, Van, Gaziantep, Tatvan, Uak, Sakarya, Sivas and Afyonkarahisar.


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IHH carries on the project of digging water wells in regions where access to clean drinking water is limited or disrupted. Th e project commenced in 2005 with donations from benevolent people. It is bestowing the blessing of water to drought-stricken areas of Africa and Asia. During the period of April-June 2011, four wells were

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Water wells in Jammu and Kashmir Water wells were dug in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir and they were named after IHH Central Asia Desk Coordinator Faruk Akta, who was killed in a plane crash, and the nine activists who were murdered onboard Mavi Marmara boat. Th e nine water wells dug in February and March 2011 were inaugurated in Pulwama and Islamabad. A well drilled in Anantnag was named after Faruk Akta, IHH worker who was killed in a plane crash last year in Afghanistan where he was working for an orphanage project. Th e 10 water wells opened in Kashmir, where access to water resources is a serious problem due to mountainous terrain of the region, are serving 2000 families. completed, foundations for another seven were laid, and 89 were half-completed. With the new additions the number of wells dug so far in Ethiopia, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and Kyrgyzstan will reach 1721.

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Our foundation brought together refugees living in Istanbul and neighboring cities at a picnic on 18 June, the World Refugee Day. Th e fourth of the annual IHH picnics took place in Beykoz forest with the participation of around 1500 people. Turkey-based refugees of Afghan, Iraqi, Palestinian, Uzbek, Chechen, Meskhetian and East Turkistani origins attended the picnic. A press conference was also held at the picnic to inform attendants on the situation of refugees worldwide and IHH activities for refugees.

Help given to 581 refugee families Turkey is both a destination and a transit country in migration movements. Migrants of di erent origins have sought refuge in Turkey and are living deprived of social security and access to shelter, education, health and other basic services. In May IHH provided foodstu s, hygiene kits, clothes and shoes to 581 families of Meskhetian, Iraqi, Chechen, and East Turkistani origin in various cities of Turkey.

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A huge humanitarian crisis was engendered in Ivory Coast by armed clashes that broke out following the presidential elections in November 2010. Th ousands of people sought refuge in neighboring Ghana, Guinea, and Liberia. Sources put the death toll between 700 and 1200. IHH initiated a relief e ort after the crisis erupted and delivered clean drinking water, hygiene kits, foodstu s and clothes to refugees staying at Berekum refugee camp on the Ghana border. Humanitarian crisis in Ivory Coast

There are about 500,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria, which has a population of 23 million people. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 walking disabled refugees in the 10 refugee camps across the country and only 2000 of them have wheelchairs. IHH carries on helping the refugees, who are deprived of all government facilities including fundamental citizenship rights. Th e foundation donated wheelchairs to 105 refugees based in seven camps. Wheelchairs donated to refugee camps

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IHH launched a range of projects to alleviate the su ering of people a ected by the oods that inundated half of Pakistan in July 2010. 260 out of 500 permanent homes have already been built and handed over to their dwellers by late May 2011. Th e Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Alija Izetbegovic villages that were built by IHH and Turkeys the Great Union Party (BBP) in Muza argarh, Punjab and Dadu, Sindh respectively have been inaugurated. Following the inauguration of the villages, which have 20 houses each, the Turkish delegation made visits and held talks about ongoing relief works and prospective projects in Pakistan. Th e BBP delegation also nanced the weddings of 15 young couples. Among other projects launched in May are the Emir Sultan Homes in Hamzawall village of Muza argarh and construction of a mosque, a madrasah of eight classrooms, and a school of nine classrooms in the same village.

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Thousands of schools were signi cantly damaged in last years oods that covered a great part of Pakistan. Most of the students in the countrys northeast had to take a break until their schools had been repaired, while only a small number continued to attend undamaged schools. In Pakistan, geographical conditions and limited economic power of families force students to cover long distances to reach their schools. In Muza argarh, Punjab, one of the most a ected areas by oods, 200 high-school students were given bicycles. Another 300 bicycles will be distributed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces.

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IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation performed nazhr and aqiqah ritual slaughters scheduled for the April-May period. Th e meat was distributed to 3950 impoverished families in 22 provinces such as Sakarya, Dzce, Bolu, Ankara, Nevehir, Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan, Erzurum, Ar, Tatvan (Bitlis), Mu, Bingl, Diyarbakr, anlurfa, Adyaman, Gaziantep, Kilis, skenderun (Hatay), Osmaniye, Adana and Konya. IHH performs nazhr and aqiqah slaughter and distributes the meat to people in need in Turkey as well as overseas. In March, 490 shares of Qurban were distributed in Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Arakan and Mindanao. In Pakistan 196 shares, in Azerbaijan 140, in Arakan 105 and in Mindanao 49 shares were given to poor, migrant and orphan families.

Ritual meat deliveries in 22 cities and 5 countries

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A plane crash in the Pamir Mountains of Afghanistan last year cost the lives of Faruk Akta, coordinator of the IHH Asia Desk, IHH volunteer Bahattin Yldz, Ahmet Igbal Yolda, chairman of Hedef Foundation, one of IHHs partner organizations in Afghanistan, and Aynuddin Yolda, foreign relations representative of Hedef Foundation. Th e aid volunteers were in Afghanistan to look for land to build a new orphanage on. Th ey were paid respect to at a commemoration program at Zeytinburnu Cultural Centre, Istanbul. Th e families of the martyrs, their friends and acquaintances attended the program. Afghanistan martyrs paid homage on anniversary

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IHH published two books entitled Mavi Marmara/Gaza Freedom Flotilla and Freedom Flotilla through Language of Global Conscience/Interviews with Passengers. Th ey were released on the rst anniversary of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a civilian movement destined to leave its mark on the history of humankind. Mavi Marmara/Gaza Freedom Flotilla shares with readers anecdotes of witnesses and unknown details of the entire process starting with preparing the otilla, up to the actual attack and afterwards. Th e reasons behind the Freedom Flotilla, the preparations period, the sailing of the otilla, details of the voyage, the attack and afterwards, and many more details based on testimonies of the organizers and otilla participants are communicated to readers using rst-hand sources. Freedom Flotilla through Language of Global Conscience/Interviews with Passengers, on the other hand, contains interviews conducted with 39 otilla participants around the world. Th e book re ects almost all colors of the Freedom Flotilla from lawmakers to academics, journalists to documentary directors, doctors to lawyers, and students to housewives. Th e book shares with readers what the otilla participants did to attempt to end the embargo on Gaza before joining the otilla, what they went through during the voyage and the reasons why they took part in such a movement.

IHH publishes two books on the anniversary of the Gaza Flotilla raid With these two works that give every detail of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, IHH is hoping to pass down to future generations the proof of how humankind could become a united voice against injustice and lack of justice. You can order these books online at www.kitapyurdu.com.

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Mavi Marmara programs in Indonesia and Malaysia

Nalan Dal, IHH Public Relations Coordinator, and Zeliha Salam, from the IHH Research and Publications Department, represented the foundation at the International Family Conference which was organized by the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World in Bandung, Indonesia. Th e conference put the focus on the signi cance of the family in raising future generations in the best way and participants presented family models of their respective countries. Nalan Dal, who was invited to the Jakarta-based University of Indonesia as a speaker, made a presentation on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the actions on board the Mavi Marmara and its consequences. Th e IHH representatives also paid visits to MERCI, KISPA, Pusat Dakwah Muhammadiyah and a number of universities. IHH representatives visited civil society organizations in Malaysia, one of the most important Muslim countries in Southeast Asia. Th ey delivered a speech, Consequences of Mavi Marmara, at the conference, which was organized at the Islamic University of Malaysia by Aksa Society and IIUM Turkish Student Society. Th e speeches of Nalan Dal and IHH Executive Board member Glden Snmez received admiration from the attendees. Th e attendees asked questions and expressed their opinions on IHH, Mavi Marmara and the Freedom Flotilla II. IHH representatives also attended programs at TV 3 and ASTRO TV to inform the audience about Freedom Flotilla I and other activities of IHH. PEDAL members, a group of 22 activists from 15 countries who began their journey on bicycles in support of Palestine, arrived in Turkey after cycling for 5000 km. Th e cyclists are hoping to reach al-Quds and West Bank on bicycles. Th e activists visited IHH before departing from Istanbul and stated that they started the project to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. Th ey expressed support for the solidarity of the Turks with the Palestinian people and with their determination to support any action to ensure the success of the Freedom Flotilla II. PEDAL activists visit IHH

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IHH Humanitarian Aid Foundation organized painting, poetry and essay contests with a Mavi Marmara theme on the anniversary of the bloody Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Th e results of the contests were announced in the rst week of June. Students with winning entries gathered at the IHH head o ce on Wednesday 15 June and were handed their rewards. Th e winners of the contest, that attracted 434 entries in total, come from Adana, Aksaray, Ankara, Batman, Bolu, Bursa, Elaz, Istanbul, zmir, Karabk, Kayseri, Konya, Ktahya, Mula, Nevehir, Sakarya, Samsun, anlurfa and Britain.Th e jury for the poetry competition included Nurettin Durman, Adem Turan and Hseyin Akn; for the painting competition, Mevlana dris, idem Tavkul, Turan Dertli and Rabia Bozkurt; for the essay competition, Sibel Eraslan, Tark Tufan and Ali Ayil. We thank all the schools, students and teachers that participated in the contests.

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Daily hot meals to 7000 in Simav Th e 5.7-magnitude earthquake that occurred in Simav, Ktahya on 19 May, caused material damage in the town and nearby villages and left many houses uninhabitable. Th e residents whose homes were damaged, were moved to tent camps. Th e IHH relief that was dispatched to the quake area provided hot meals for 13 days to a daily number of 6000-7000 people using a mobile kitchen trailer. Th e team also distributed meals to 1000 inhabitants in the villages of Naa and Gkeler.

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Activities of young volunteersTh e number of young volunteers who want to join in IHH relief campaigns is growing daily. Th rough the IHH youth branch, students from secondary to university level get together and spread bene ts while helping people in need, starting with their own neighborhoods. Meetings were held with high-school and

university students over the last three months to introduce IHH and give information about the planned projects.In May 2010, our volunteer students organized seminars, conferences and art exhibitions at a number of universities and high-schools with various themes such as Palestine, Mavi Marmara and others. Students of Boazii University are one of

the most active student groups that carry out common activities with IHH. Th e students take part in events promoting IHH, relief projects and also reach out to people in need using their own resources. Campus to World magazine is one of their many projects. Th is is published by a group of students and aims to cover a country under oppression and embargo, in each issue. Th e rst issue covered the Palestinian question in

Charity volunteers across Turkey continue to support cross-border aid campaigns. Cataract, orphans, water wells and other IHH projects grow with the titanic e orts of our volunteers. By their e orts, they are transforming the lives of thousands of people in need. Volunteers hearts reach out to the world

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detail. and contains interviews with Sheikh Raed Salah, IHH chairman Blent Yldrm, the parents of Rachel Corrie, Cindy and Craig Corrie. Th e revenues of the magazine sales will be donated to Palestinian orphans. Bookmarks : Exemplary youth projectAnother group of students from Boazii University succeeded in raising 2250 Turkish liras (TL) in a month for our cataract campaign, by selling campaign bookmarks for TL 3 each. Th is donation paid for the surgery of 21 cataract patients. Th e bookmark campaign drew huge interest and the students also undertook funding for an orphanage to be built in Africa. Th e amount raised in four months with the bookmark sales reached TL 40,000. Students from Eyp and Kazm

Karabekir Imam-hatip high-schools organized a charity fair and an aid-in-kind campaign to contribute to an aid ship for Palestine.Students of Bayrampaa Bilgi Evi, Balarlar, Sevgi Kuca, Parlayan Yldzlar pre-schools visited our foundation and donated their moneyboxes to support their

brothers and sisters around the worldVolunteers trained in emergency relief40 volunteers from Istanbul, Konya, Tatvan and Alanya were trained at stanbul Municipality Fire ghting School BTEM in rst aid and search & rescue operations, and were given certi cates.Fund-raising organizationsIHH volunteers of Samsun city organized a public program with breakfast to draw support for the water wells project. Th e event, supported by a number of civil society organizations, raised enough funds to dig two water wells in Africa.

Our volunteers of anakkale held a week-long charity fair. Th e money raised in the fair was used to build permanent residences for Pakistans ood survivors. Volunteers of Tokat city arranged an outdoor breakfast to raise funds for permanent residences being built for refugees in Pakistan.Volunteers in Erzurum undertook the project of repairing orphanages and Quran teaching centres in Kyrgyzstan and contributed to IHH orphan campaigns with various charity events and programs.Volunteers from the city of Krehir contributed to our project to purchase our grinding machines for families of ten orphans and donated cash to Palestinian orphans with a week-long charity fair.

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Volunteers of Gebze nanced cataract surgeries for 53 patients with a week-long charity fair.Volunteers of Alanya donated the funds, collected in various events, to our foundation for distribution of Quran copies in Africa.Volunteers of negl organized theatre and photography exhibitions in support of orphans. Th e Anatolia Humanitarian Relief Association (AYDER), which cares for over 1000 orphans with the Sponsor Family System, organized a charity fair to raise funds for an orphanage being built in Pattani. Volunteers from the Eyp, Yenibosna, Kartal, Soanl and Cevizli neighborhoods of Istanbul worked at IHH promotion stands and photography exhibitions. Volunteers of Esenler district organized a boat tour in the Bosphorus with 500 participants. All the money raised

by the event was donated for the construction of orphanages. Volunteers in Baakehir held a charity fair to raise funds to build permanent homes for refugees in Pakistan and an orphanage in Afghanistan. Volunteers of Kathane arranged a public event at Kathane Wedding Hall to raise funds for orphans. IHH volunteers residing at Esenler Park Evleri hosted an open bu et breakfast to generate funds for the construction of orphanages. A presentation was made during the breakfast to inform attendants on orphan activities and other campaigns of IHH. Volunteers in the Netherlands gathered at house meetings to commemorate the Mavi Marmara victims on the anniversary of the Israeli raid on the otilla.

Th e worlds eighth most populated country; Bangladesh is one of the most signi cant countries of operation for IHH. Underdevelopment and poverty caused by political turmoil, corruption, high population density and low literacy rate, combined with natural disasters, are causing chronic problems for Bangladesh. It is also already su ering from infrastructure Orphanage and mosque project Bangladesh failures. Bangladesh, where a sizable part of the population lives under the poverty line, is one of the regions worst a ected by cyclones and monsoon rains. A planned project is aiming to build a 100-person capacity orphanage and a mosque that can hold 250 people at the same time in Gazipur. Th e construction of the orphanage and the mosque will cost $200,000.

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Darfur, population six million, is located in the west of Sudans vast deserts and barren lands. Nyala, the capital of South Darfur and home to 1.5 million residents belonging to di erent tribes, has taken in the highest number of migrants in the long-running civil unrest. Nyala is home to dozens of refugee camps and over a million migrants live in these camps. Th e families that are condemned to live in refugee camps, depending on help from aid agencies, cannot a ord to meet even the basic needs of their children. Th at is why infant mortality rates run high at the camps. Th e planned project will provide newborn babies in these camps with basic necessities such as medication, clothing, pots, diapers, infant formula and towels. Th e project is to last for a year and meet the basic needs of around 2000 babies. Th e cost of the project is 25 per baby and 50,000 for 2000 babies.

Meeting basic needs of

newborn babies Darfur

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Sri Lanka is a Southern Asian island nation in the Indian Ocean, 31 km o the south coast of India. Buddhists form 70 %, Hindus 15 %, Christians 8 % and Muslims 7 % of the 21-million population. Th e con ict that broke out in 1983 between the two major ethnic groups, the Sinhalese and Tamil, has turned into a civil war. Th e tsunami disaster in 2004 worsened the situation of the refugees in the country. Most of them lost their families, homes and lands, and still live deprived of basic needs. With this project, 55 square metre houses composed of three rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom will be built to help the refugees return to where they used to live. Each house will cost $6000.

Permanent houses for refugees Sri Lanka

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ctsin briefin briefin brief

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ctsfuture proje

ctsin brief

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ctsin briefin briefin brief

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Hindistan, Afganistan, Pakistan ve in Halk Cumhuriyetine snr olan Kemir 1947den bu yana Pakistan-Hindistan-in ilikilerinin en temel amazlarndan biri. Toplam yz lm 222.236 km olan Kemir, 1947den itibaren Hindistan tarafndan kontrol edilen Jammu Kemir, 1947den itibaren Pakistann kontrol altndaki Azad Kemir, 1962den itiba-ren inin igali altnda olan kuzeydeki Shakhgam Vadisi ve doudaki Aksa-i in blgelerinden olumakta. Hindistan kontrolndeki Jammu Kemirin nfusu yaklak 13-14 milyon civarnda. Nfusun yaklak % 85i Mslman. Yoksulluun yaygn olduu blgede yetim ve kimsesiz ocuklar her trl tehlikeye ak durumda yayor. Blge iin planlanan proje ile zellikle yetim ve kimsesiz kz ocuklarnn kendi ayaklar zerinde durabilmelerini ve kimseye muhta olmadan hayatlarn idame ettirebilmelerini salamak zere mesleki eitim kurslar almas amalanyor. Proje kapsamnda Jammu Kemirin sla-mabad kentinde yaayan yetim, kimsesiz ve yoksul kz ocuklarna ynelik diki-nak ve bilgisayar dersleri verilecek. Alt ay sreli kurslarn her dneminde 200 ocuk eitim alabilecek. Projenin toplam maliyeti 67.000 avrodur.

Bordering India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, Kashmir has been in a deadlock with regards to Pakistan-India-China relations since 1974. Kashmir, which has an area of 222,236 square-metres, is made up of Jammu and Kash-mir. It has been governed by India since 1947, Azad Kashmir, on the other hand, has been ruled by Pakistan since 1947 and northern Shaks-gam Valley and eastern Aksai Chin have been controlled by China since 1962. Th e Indian-admi-nistered Jammu and Kashmir has a population of 13-14 million and 85 percent of the population is Muslim. Poverty is widespread in the region and orphans and homeless children are facing all kinds of threats. Vocational training is plan-ned with a project that will help orphans and homeless female children, who cannot stand on their own feet, become self-su cient. Orphaned, homeless and poor girls in Islamabad (Anant-nag) city of Jammu and Kashmir will be o ered training in sewing, embroidery, and I.T. Th e training will last for six-month periods and will be o ered to 200 children in each period. Th e project will cost 67,000.

Vocational training Jammu and

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in the eld in the eldin the eldin the eld

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children, who are a trust from Allah to the Muslim community. We headed for our destination early in the morning. After a walk in the warm monsoon rain we met at the IHH-built orphanage with a number of children, each prettier than the other. Th e orphanage o cials, mothers who had lost their husbands at war, and the orphans, all gave us an enthusiastic welcome. What rapport, what cordiality! It was as if sisters or parents and children who had been separated for years were reunited. Some of the women could not hold back tears of happiness.

Lets make orphans happy Aye Olgun, Yeni afak newspaperWe arrived in Mindanao after two-days of travel with a group of aid workers from IHH, which has launched a signi cant project to reach out to 250 million orphans around the globe. What we saw during the opening ceremony of the orphanage built for children, who had lost their fathers to war, shows the meaning of this signi cant project. We reached the other end of the world after travelling for two days. Our journey ended after three ights in three di erent aircrafts, waiting in airport lounges, and a ve-hour formidable road trip at night. And we are now in the Philippines Mindanao (Moro) region. Th e island of Mindanao is predominantly inhabited by Bangsamoro Muslims. We were going to meet, in the major city of Cotabato, orphan children, most of whom had lost their fathers in war. Th ere is an expression beyond tiredness and exhaustion on the faces of our seven-member group. We are all excited and happy to meet the

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Children who have never seen their fathers Th e ghting between the Filipino government and Mindanao Muslims has split many families. Mindanao Muslims have been struggling for their rights and liberties, since the 1970s. Th e tragedy becomes clearer as we speak to some of the women and children. We were told that some children lost their fathers even before they were born. Some men heard the news they had babies while ghting on the battle eld and fell as martyrs before they could embrace their babies. Th e scar of the war has been imprinted on the faces of these orphan children. Th ese tiny hearts have su ered the deepest scars of the war as is the case in some other places in the world. As part of the states policy of extermination and shifting the demographic structure, children who have lost their fathers are stripped of all rights. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has not left these children to their unfortunate fate and has been struggling fearlessly, despite all domestic obstacles, to put a smile on their faces. IHH volunteers of Baakehir have raised enough funds, with charity fairs they had held, to pay for the expenses of the orphanage. Th e volunteers prepared di erent kinds of foods and sold their dowries that they had been saving diligently for years, to please the children at the other end of world, whose names they did not even know, but whose pain they shared. As a result of these sel ess e orts, a new building has been added to the orphanage. Th is warm home built for 50 orphans aged between ve to 14 means a lot to them, because in this country, where poverty is very common, it is almost impossible for families staying at makeshift homes to look after these orphans.

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Festival atmosphere at orphanage Th e opening ceremony of the orphanage, built by the donations from charitable people of Turkey, is like a festival. First of all nazhr slaughters were performed enthusiastically; then a big re was lit in the garden. Th e meat of ritual animals was cooked and distributed to families and children along with rice and then the orphanage was inaugurated. Th e orphan children were taken to the largest store in the city for shopping. Th ey were shy at rst, but after some encouragement and stroking of their

heads, they chose clothes for themselves. Th e happiness on their sad faces was delightful. Books and notepads were also purchased and the children were given their clothes at the orphanage in the afternoon. Th e orphans joyfully played with balloons. We learnt a lot during the three days we spent with the orphans, such as smiling sincerely and from the heart, despite all the hardships of life. What we experienced in Cotabato is only a brief example from the IHH project that helps all orphans around the world. We are just placing one piece of this project on the world map like in a jigsaw puzzle.

Th e complete picture is that this is a project launched to reach out to 250 million orphans around the globe. Some of these orphans have lost their family members just like children here. IHH relief teams are on the move to provide a home to these children and give any kind of material and nonmaterial support needed to survive. Orphan children get a safe home and their daily necessities at orphanages built in their own countries by philanthropic people from Turkey. Th e project is huge, distances to be covered are vast, but the hearts that strive to put a smile on the faces of orphans are as big as the world!

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A usual day at theIHH eye hospital in Sudan Serhat OrakTh e grandchild will be saved from a captivity he is not aware of, the grandfather will be relieved of dependency of long years and most important of all he will see his grandchild. Th e grandfather looks around onces he regains consciousness and raises his hands in prayers: May Allah be pleased with you! May He help you as long as you live! And bestow success in every work you do

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It is an ordinary day at the IHH eye hospital with patients, clinics, doctors and surgeries. First an eight-year old girl, Menasek, comes in. One of her eyes has lost vision from trauma. Th e ultrasound result is not good. Normal surgery performed here will not bene t her. What she needs is urgent retina surgery, but that is not possible here. Th e doctor at the clinic looks again and again at the ultrasound result card of the young girl. I know he wants to perform the operation. He is upset too. One of the nurses has seated the girl on the table and is stroking her hair. Her eyes wet, the nurse is making jokes but is not laughing. She is only trying to cheer the girl up. She nally tells the girl to go and eat inside. She calls to Mary: Give food and water to the girl! As time passes surgery patients start to come out of the operating room. Menasek nishes her meal as the photograph of the eighteenth patient is taken. We talk to the grandmother

who brought the girl in. We tell her about the situation of the girl. Th ey have no money, no social security or anywhere else to go. We feel helpless. Another young girl enters the clinic with her father. Both her eyes have cataract. She cannot see at all. Her situation is highly critical. She is not even fteen yet. She has not attended school and has not known much of the world. Th e doctor examines the girl. Th is time there is hope. Th e girl could see again. He decides to take her into the operating theatre as soon as possible. Th e girls father gets his hopes up. He is ready to do anything we say. All he wants is for his daughter to see again. Cataract and eye problems are some of the most serious problems in sub Saharan Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people live deprived of vision because of this widespread problem. Sometimes an adult, a child who has not been to school yet, or even a newborn baby, could develop cataract. Sudan, where I have been working for IHH over the last three years, tops the list of countries su ering from widespread eye problems. Th e number of patients is high, however technical and nancial facilities are inadequate. In this regard, IHH has a lot to do in Sudan.

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I got a chance to be part of this campaign when I was assigned as a coordinator at the Sudan eye hospital for IHHs Africa Cataract Project. Allah knows, maybe I spent the three most meaningful and bene cial years of my life there. I witnessed thousands of cases like the cases of the two girls mentioned above. Furthermore the most tragic pointis that, of the hundreds of thousands of Sudanese who su er from visual impairment 80 percent are living condemned to darkness, because of nancial di culties and technical limitations. All they need to regain their vision is surgery or drug therapy.

Th ere are 600,000 eye patients in Sudan waiting for surgery. About 45 percent of these cannot a ord an operation and therefore have to live without sight. Th ree operating theatres and mobile health camps opened by IHH in di erent residential areas in Sudan are o ering an alternative to the deprived in the country. Th e 30,000 cataract surgeries performed so far by IHH in Sudan are still not su cient despite constituting a high number. What if we try walking, drinking, eating, going to the bathroom with our eyes closed Maybe then we could understand the value of our eyes and the ability to see.

What about grandfathers who cannot see their grandchildren because they cannot a ord a TL 120 surgery, or mothers who cannot see the children they gave birth to, or the children who can only recognize their parents by touching? How do we answer the man who says I wish I could see and read the Quran again or the young girl who says I wish I could get married?, and the grandfather who says If only I could see the land where I was born and grew up? IHH is helping ful ll most of these wishes with the eye surgeries it has been performing in Sudan and other African countries. I count myself lucky to see this

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facet of life, thanks to this project. I worry when I think of all the people waiting to regain sight. And I feel upset when I think about helpless children such as Menasek. We must help these children and get them out of the darkness.An old man maintains his life for years with help from his grandchild. When he needs to go to the bathroom, his grandchild takes him; the grandchild feeds him and does not leave him ever. He helps his grandfather, while his friends play. Th e grandfather recognizes his grandchild, who is always with him, by touching and hearing. He also comes to the IHH hospital with his grandchild. Th e

grandchild does not leave his grandfather for a minute while waiting for surgery. Th e child is very anxious. He lets go of the hand he has been holding. In a little while the lives of both grandfather and grandchild will change. Th e grandchild will be saved from a captivity he is not aware of, the grandfather will be relieved of dependency of long years and most important of all he will see his grandchild. Th e grandfather looks around once he regains consciousness and raises his hands in prayers: May All

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