Organized by the Institute of International Relations and Strategic Research (ULİSA) of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University (AYBÜ) in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent and the University of New York Tirana, the 3rd International Humanitarian Aid Symposium commenced on November 5 at the National Will Campus. On the first day of the symposium, nine papers were presented on topics ranging from disaster management to humanitarian diplomacy.
During the opening program held at the Meneşke Hall of the AYBÜ National Will Campus, speeches were delivered by Prof. Dr. İbrahim Demir, Director of the ULİSA Institute, and Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Tutar, Vice Rector of our University. In addition to academicians and researchers, representatives from stakeholder institutions such as AFAD, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and the Turkish Red Crescent attended the program.
Following the opening, three sessions were held. Moderated by Prof. Dr. Aslı Akay, the session titled “Disaster Management and Field Practices” addressed the execution of health services during the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and the contribution of the private sector to disaster logistics.
Chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Zafer Sağıroğlu, the session titled “Principles, Risks, and Law in Humanitarian Aid” discussed the transition of refugees from humanitarian aid to sustainable livelihoods, as well as the legal challenges of crypto assets, digital donations, and zakat platforms through the cases of Ukraine and Gaza.
The final session of the day, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevinç Özcan, was “Turkey, Foreign Policy, and Humanitarian Diplomacy.” This session featured presentations on the humanitarian nature of Turkey's refugee housing expenditures, the link between humanitarian aid and national security, the visibility of Turkey's and the US's aid to Gaza in international media, and the legal dimensions of renewable energy in post-disaster temporary housing areas.
The symposium will continue with online sessions on Friday, November 6. Seven papers will be presented across two sessions moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Merve Çetinkaya and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ebru Demir. Among the topics to be addressed in these sessions are the role of humanitarian diplomacy in Turkish foreign policy with regards to the cases of Syria and Somalia, Albania's experience of solidarity in humanitarian crises, the securitization of humanitarian aid in armed conflicts, and the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law.
At 15:00, the open-to-all online forum titled “Research, Education-Instruction-Curriculum, and Ecosystem Forum in the Field of Humanitarian Aid Studies” will be held.
The symposium program can be accessed at aybu.edu.tr/uliyas3.
