The 1st Arakan Football League, which is organized by the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner of Bangladesh (RRRC) and the Arakan Rohingya Football Federation (ARFF) with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Turkish Red Crescent and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, ended with a cup ceremony organized after the final match.
During the month-long sports festival, which started on January 3, 2024, within the camps housing Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, twelve teams competed for the championship. Almost 20,000 spectators watched the final match, played on the 7th of March. The Rathe Daung football team won the final match, ending in a 2-2 draw, against Nakkura after penalties, and became the champion.
Representatives from organizations such as UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), FIFA (International Association Football Federation), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), WFP (World Food Programme), ISCG (Inter Sector Coordination Group) and also officials from Bangladeshi authorities watched the final match live.
Following the match, the championship cup, second place cup, golden shoe, golden gloves, player of the match award, fair play award and second place medals were presented to the players amid applause and celebration.
During his closing speech, TİKA’s Coordinator in Bangladesh, Şevki Mert Barış, congratulated the champion team, and expressed his gratitude to all Rohingya people for the patience, support and love they have shown.
Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman also expressed his gratitude to TİKA for their support.
Stating the importance of unity in reestablishing the Rohingya people’s image, traditions and heritage, Rahman emphasized that the tournament aimed to enhance the feeling of unity and ultimately facilitate the return of these people to their homeland. Inviting young people to steer clear of bad habits such as conflicts and drugs, Rahman expressed his hope that the event would make a positive contribution to society.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), organized a training program on smart farming techniques for farmers in Koyra, located in the Khulna District of Bangladesh.
As part of the project “Creating A Climate Resilient Society Through Skills Development” implemented in cooperation between TİKA and the Amal Foundation, which has been supporting people in need in Bangladesh in many fields, especially in education, healthcare, agriculture for about 10 years, seed and fertilizer support was provided to participants of the training program.
A total of 20 people, including women and young people, were trained on smart farming techniques for 4 months.
During the training, participants learnt smart farming techniques such as sack gardening and vertical farming techniques, and also had the opportunity to develop leadership and decision-making skills.
Certificates were presented to the participants at the end of the program.
About Bangladesh
A South Asian country, Bangladesh, has been fighting against the effects of climate change. Natural hazards such as sea level rise, tropical cyclones and saltwater flooding particularly endanger coastal areas.
Although the agricultural sector, which once constituted one-quarter of the national income in the early 2000s, has decreased to 12% due to increased industrialization and the share of service sector in recent years, remains an important source of income for Bangladesh.
About 40% of the population has been engaged in agriculture and this sector has been a source of income for millions of people.
However, the fact that the average annual income per capita in Bangladesh is around 2,000 dollars and that poverty hits a large portion of the society remains one of the country’s most significant and chronic problems.
Bangladesh attaches importance to various national and international projects and programs aimed at fighting against these challenges and increasing social welfare.
The significance of sustainable agriculture in the fight against climate change stands out as a determining factor for the country’s future.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided one ambulance to the health centers in Bujanovac and Bosilegrad, which are located in Southern Serbia and primarily host minority groups, and neonatal incubators to Kikinda General Hospital in the province of Vojvodina.
One patient transfer ambulance was provided to the Municipality of Bujanovac, located in Southern Serbia, where the Albanian minority resides densely, and to the Municipality of Bosilegrad, where the Bulgarian minority resides densely. Thanks to the project implemented, the people in the region now have access to more proficient and easier health services. In addition to this, a neonatal transport incubator, neonatal intensive care incubator and incubator with a combined heater were provided to Kikinda General Hospital in the province of Vojvodina, where the Hungarian minority resides densely.
The Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of Serbia, Aleksandar Martinović; the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Belgrade, Hami Aksoy; the Head of the Department of the Balkans and Eastern Europe at TİKA, Muhammed Ünal, mayors, press members and many other guests attended the delivery ceremony held at the Palace of Serbia.
Local governments are being supported
Stating that he attaches significant importance to supporting local governments, the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Belgrade, Aksoy, underlined that the aforementioned project was rapidly implemented by TİKA upon the request of the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Martinović.
Cooperation between the two countries is getting stronger
During his speech at the delivery ceremony, the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of Serbia, Martinović stated that TİKA offers precious donations to improve the quality of healthcare services for citizens in Kikinda, Bosilegrad and Bujanovac. He also expressed his belief that this support marks the beginning of a series of joint activities aiming to improve the living conditions of all Serbian people.
Stating that Serbia and Türkiye are truly friendly countries, Martinović expressed his wish that mutual dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in all fields will be further strengthened.
Türkiye’s humanitarian stance is reflected in the development projects
During his speech, the Head of the Department of the Balkans and Eastern Europe at TİKA, Ünal stated that TİKA has been tirelessly carrying out its activities for 32 years as an organization reflecting our country’s global humanitarian stance through concrete development projects in the field and it prioritizes human welfare, and that they have implemented over 60 projects in the field of healthcare. He concluded his speech by expressing his satisfaction with the project implemented in Serbia, a country with which we have historical and cultural bonds.
The “Dipkarpaz Artisan Kitchen”, established in Dipkarpaz in cooperation between Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Cyprus Turkish Entrepreneurial Women’s Association (GİKAD), was put into service on March 8, International Women’s Day.
As part of the project developed by TİKA to help women become more visible in society, empower themselves economically and stand on their own, the “Dipkarpaz Artisan Kitchen”, which will enable women to produce and market local food in Dipkarpaz and has been equipped with industrial kitchen equipment, was inaugurated.
The Vice President of the TRNC and the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly, Zorlu Töre; the Deputy Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly, Fazilet Özdenefe; the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Nicosia, Prof. Dr. Metin Feyzioğlu; TİKA’s Coordinator in Nicosia, Havva Pınar Özcan Küçükçavuş; the Mayor of Erenköy-Dipkarpaz, Hamit Bakırcı; the President of GİKAD, İçim Çağıner Kavuklu and the residents of Dipkarpaz attended the opening ceremony.
Through the establishment of a professional kitchen, it is aimed to ensure the participation of women residing in the Karpaz region in the food industry and thus enhancing their involvement in production.
“It is our state’s, our municipality’s duty to pave the way for women”
During his speech at the opening ceremony, the Vice President of the TRNC and the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly, Töre stated that they will fight together to ensure women can be involved in all areas of society equally. He emphasized that women have always been at the forefront in the struggle for independence and in transforming the country’s land into a homeland, and said, “It is our state’s, our municipality’s duty to pave the way for you, for women.”
“You are at the forefront, serving as a model for everyone”
The Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Nicosia, Feyzioğlu expressed that women are no longer the hidden power of society, now they are emerging as leaders of society. Noting that ultimate work is the product of great labor, Feyzioğlu stated that the adoption of the project made him even more hopeful for the future of the country. He also added, “As Atatürk said, there are no women of any other nation in history who have made as great sacrifices for their independence, their future, their honor, their nation as the Turkish women.”
“The most significant project”
TİKA’s Coordinator in Nicosia, Küçükçavuş expressed that, as TİKA, they inaugurated the most significant project on the occasion of March 8, International Working Women’s Day. Küçükçavuş noted that the Artisan Kitchen project is their second project aimed at supporting the empowerment of women in society. Expressing her happiness at being at the event with women who have transformed their labor into value, she said, “We have been in Dipkarpaz with a project which will help women empower themselves economically, hold a greater place in society, and stand on their own.”
Aboutthe “Artisan Kitchen Project”
In the kitchen established through cooperation between TİKA and GİKAD, women residing in the region will be employed to produce molasses, floral water, rose water, various types of cheese, dried hand-made pasta, pastries, jam, paste and traditional homemade meals belonging to Turkish Cypriots’ culture, and the prepared food will be sold directly.
This project, which was implemented to include women in the economic life and in food sector, will create added value for the Karpaz region, which remains distant from the capital and other city centers.
Through the project, local and cultural products will be combined in a joint recipe and produced in an industrial environment.
The inaugural event of the series which will be implemented by TİKA in 2024, designated as the “Turkish-Hungarian Culture Year” due to the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Hungary, was held in Budapest.
TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik; the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest, Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu; the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of ELTE, Prof. Dr. Dávid Bartus and many other guests attended the “Turkology Studies in Hungary, Hungarology Studies in Türkiye” symposium held at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE).
The symposium started with the opening ceremony of the “TİKA’s Contributions to Turkish-Hungarian Common Culture” photograph exhibition. In this exhibition, inaugurated by TİKA’s Vice President Dr. Mahmut Çevik, pictures of various projects contributing to cultural relations between the two countries, such as the restoration of the Tomb of Gül Baba, the renovation and landscaping of the Szigetvár Hungarian-Turkish Friendship Park, the renovation and equippingt of Turkology departments at the Universities of ELTE and Szeged, excavation works at the Tomb of Suleyman the Magnificent, were exhibited.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the symposium, Çevik stated that TİKA, which has been carrying out relief works and cooperation programs worldwide, today has been operating in more than 170 countries through its 63 Program Coordination Offices situated in 61 countries. He also expressed that since its establishment in 2014, TİKA’s Budapest Program Coordination Office has carried out a total of 115 projects and activities. Çevik declared that he is greatly pleased to bring together esteemed linguists and folklorists who conduct prominent studies on language, history and our shared cultural values both in Türkiye and Hungary.
The Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest, Ekşioğlu stated that he believes the topics discussed in today’s sessions will also reflect our cultural bonds dating back hundreds of years.
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of ELTE, which hosted the symposium, Bartus emphasized that the Turkish and Hungarian people, who share a deep-rooted common history, are two friendly nations, and extended thanks to everyone who contributed to the symposium.
The symposium, which facilitated to the mutual promotion of Turkish and Hungarian cultures and further enhancement of cultural relations between the two countries, ended with the presentation of plaques to scholars participating from Türkiye and Hungary.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) implemented the “Za’atar Production Project” on land owned by the Directorate of Foundations in Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon.
Aiming to diversify agricultural production, increase its added value and increase employment in Lebanon, TİKA implemented the “Za’atar Production Project” on 17 decares of land belonging to the Directorate of Foundations of the Tripoli Mufti’s Office.This project involves supplying, planting, irrigating and maintaining seedlings, as well as covering infrastructure development activities for cultivating mostly za’atar Oregano, thyme, sumac and strawberries.
The Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Beirut, Ali Barış Ulusoy; Mayor of Tripoli, Riad Yamak; the Mufti of Tripoli, Sheikh Mohammad Tarek Imam; the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Tripoli, Toufic Dabboussi; officials from TİKA’s Beirut Office and many other guests attended the opening ceremony of the project.
During his speech, Ambassador Ulusoy stated that he strongly believes that the “Za’atar Production Project” will set an example for businesses in the region, support the increase in agricultural income and employment in the region and also contribute to the development of relations between Lebanon and Türkiye.
It has been planned that the income acquired from the sales of the raw or processed plants, which are to be harvested, will be used for charity work and the development of sustainable agricultural activities by the Directorate of Foundations, and that the necessary workforce will be sourced from villages in the region. Thus, this project will also contribute to regional employment.
As part of the project, TİKA implemented the supply of saplings, installation of drip irrigation system, water pool and electrical systems, as well as providing workforce support, installing containers for workers and materials, and supplying supporting materials and equipment related to agricultural production.
Within the Surgical Clinic of KBC Zvezdara Nikola Spasić, located in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, an operating room was established by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
The Surgical Clinic of KBC Zvezdara Nikola Spasić, which has been operating in Belgrade since 1935, carries out over 30,000 operations a year in the branches of general surgery, respiratory, stomach, cardiovascular, emergencies, orthopedics, and urology. The clinic, where approximately 300,000 patients are treated annually, also serves as the Training Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Belgrade, where medical students receive practical training as well.
Since the existing equipment in the clinic was outdated and did not meet the general surgery standards, by providing a mobile operating table, an operating light, an electrosurgical unit and a mobile surgical aspirator device, an operating room was established by TİKA to ensure that surgeries for citizens, especially those requiring operations, are carried out more effectively and efficiently.
Türkiye’s experience on healthcare is being shared with the world
During his speech at the opening ceremony of the operating room, the hospital’s director, Prof. Dr. Petar Svorcan, stated that the equipment provided by TİKA will both facilitate the personnel’s work and enhance the patients’ well-being. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the operating room, the Head of the Department of the Balkans and Eastern Europe at TİKA, Muhammed Ünal, expressed that our country has significant experience in the field of healthcare, and TİKA has implemented projects to share this experience with other countries.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided various seeds and fertilizers to 26 families in need in Lushnjë, located in the city of Fier, Albania.
Corn, bean, alfalfa seeds and chemical fertilizers were provided to 26 families in need residing in Lushnjë, located in the city of Fier, Albania. Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tirana, Tayyar Kağan Atay; TİKA’s Coordinator in Tirana, Mustafa Ata; the President of the Alternative of the Future Foundation (ALSAR), Mehdi Gurra and families attended the delivery ceremony.
During his speech, Atay expressed that within the scope of TİKA’s project, they distributed the materials that signify the love and respect of the Turkish people. Stating that they will support the families residing in Tirana, Divjakë, and Lushnjë, Atay said, “We provide seeds and fertilizer to people in need within the scope of TİKA’s efforts to support agricultural production.”
Reminding that agricultural equipment was previously provided in Lushnjë with the support of TİKA, ALSAR’s President Gurra said, “We also carry out our current project, which stands for the continuity of the Turkish nation’s aid through TİKA to orphaned children and families in need in the Republic of Albania”.
Through the project, the first phase of support, which will be provided to families residing in the villages of the cities of Tirana, Lushnjë and Divjakë and earning their livelihoods through farming, has been completed. It was reported that in the second phase of support, which consists of fertilizer as well as corn, bean and alfalfa seeds, 24 families living in the region of Tirana will benefit from the aid, and a total of 50 families in need will be supported.
An ultrasound machine was provided to the Family Practice of Dragash Municipality in Kosovo with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
The delivery ceremony of the machine, which was provided to facilitate the examination and treatment of people in Dragash, was held in the Main Center of the Family Practice of Dragash Municipality.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pristina, Sabri Tunç Angılı; Consul General to Prizren, Celal Doğan; TİKA’s Coordinator in Pristina, Fulya Aslan; the President of the Turkish Representative Committee, Colonel Sabri Gökhan Karamürsel; Mayor of Dragash, Bexhet Xheladini; representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations, female members of the Dragash municipal council and doctors attended the delivery ceremony.
During his speech, Ambassador Angılı expressed his gratitude for the support provided to Dragash Municipality.
Mentioning TİKA’s support, Mayor of Dragash, Xheladini stated that this support holds significant importance for the needs of the Family Practice of Dragash Municipality and the beneficiaries of this donation are the women residing in all neighborhoods of Dragash Municipality.
A health organization was held on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, in cooperation with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Hands Giving Lives Association.
The activities carried out by TİKA to enhance the capacity of health services in Africa, implement necessary health operations voluntarily, provide information to local health personnel, teach new techniques used in healthcare and develop friendly relations between countries carry on.
Through the organization held by TİKA and the Hands Giving Lives Association at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital and health centers in six different regions, examinations and treatments were carried out in various branches of healthcare, including eye health and diseases, gynecology and obstetrics, and pediatric health and diseases, and information was exchanged with local doctors.
During the approximately week-long organization, 141 eye surgeries (cataract) were performed, reaching a total of 566 patients. The medical interventions performed within the organization were carried out in cooperation with local doctors and through the exchange of information. Local health personnel were trained in the use of devices, surgical techniques and the administration of medicine and treatment in the fields of cataract surgery and eye pressure.Experiences were shared among participants.
Local authorities expressed their gratitude to TİKA and the Hands Giving Lives Association for their contributions to the organizations held in the region.
The “biochemistry laboratory” renovated and equipped by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has been put into service in Chad.
The economy and employment of Chad, a Central African country, hinge on agriculture and animal husbandry. However, animal diseases have a detrimental effect on the economy, resulting in decreased productivity in production. To resolve this problem, the “biochemistry laboratory,” supported by TİKA, was established. The biochemistry laboratory, which is affiliated to the Livestock Research Institute for Development (IRED) in Chad, has been renovated and equipped with modern devices by TİKA and has been put back into service.
Animal diseases will be investigated
Dr. Annour Adoum Batil, who completed his doctorate in animal husbandry with scholarships from Türkiye, and his team will investigate the animal diseases encountered in Chad at the laboratory established by TİKA, and will enable Chad to develop animal vaccines using its own resources.
The Secretary of State of Chad’s Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production, Mrs. Fatime Kodbe; the General Director of IRED, Dr. Abdel-Aziz Arada Izzedine, national media members and numerous other guests attended the opening ceremony of the laboratory.
During his speech, the General Director of IRED, Dr. Abdel-Aziz Arada Izzedine stated that the established biochemistry laboratory can be utilized even for analyzing various human diseases, such as diabetes, when necessary. He also mentioned that this laboratory is currently the most advanced laboratory in Chad.
The speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, who came to Ivory Coast to attend the 18th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), visited the National Girls’ Orphanage of Grand-Bassam and inaugurated the preschool classroom established by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
The orphanage, which was established in 1972 for both female and male students, was inaugurated as a girls’ orphanage during the visit of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Ivory Coast in February 2016 by First Lady, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan and the wife of the President of Ivory Coast, Dominique Claudine Quattara.
In the orphanage, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children of Ivory Coast, 133 girls between the ages of 5-21 receive education. In addition to cultural, physical and social activities, the orphanage organizes courses to develop handicraft skills.
An opening ceremony was held for the preschool classroom built by TİKA within the orphanage, which consists of a campus with a library, dining hall, health center, computer lab, playground and various workshops. The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş and his wife, Sevgi Kurtulmuş; the Minister of Women, Family, and Children of Ivory Coast, Nasseneba Touré Diané; the President of the Turkish Delegation to the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) and AK Party Şanlıurfa Deputy, Abdürrahim Dusak; the Member of the Turkish Delegation to the PUIC and AK Party Adana Deputy, Ahmet Zenbilci; AK Party Yalova Deputy, Ahmet Büyükgümüş; AK Party Ankara Deputy, Zeynep Yıldız; Secretary General of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Talip Uzun, and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Abidjan, Deniz Erdoğan Barım attended the opening ceremony of the preschool classroom.
During his speech at the opening ceremony, Kurtulmuş stated that Türkiye and Ivory Coast are two friendly and brotherly countries with very close relations, especially in recent years, and continue to enhance these relations. Noting that the relations between Türkiye and Ivory Coast have begun to improve much more rapidly with the mutual visits of the presidents of the two countries, Kurtulmuş expressed that this friendship became palpable during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Ivory Coast in 2016 when his wife Emine Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony held after the renovation of the orphanage in the National Girls’ Orphanage of Grand-Bassam.
Kurtulmuş also thanked the personnel of TİKA who contributed to the opening ceremony.
Stating that a bridge of the heart is being built between the Turkish nation and the people of Ivory Coast thanks to this opening, Kurtulmuş said, “We approach the people of Africa within the framework of the win-win principle, within the principles of cooperation, assistance, friendship and brotherhood as inherently equal individuals, and with the idea that we can build a better future together. In this context, I would like to express that today’s program is quite meaningful.”
“The conscience of societies is reflected in their approach towards orphans”
Saying “Children and young people are the future of societies. The conscience of societies is reflected in their approach towards orphans,” Kurtulmuş emphasized that taking care of the children here is a shared responsibility of humanity in this sense. He said, “We strongly believe that among these children, there will be world-class engineers, doctors, scientists, politicians, military personnel, in short, many scholars who can contribute positively to the world through receiving a good education. We also believe that there will be many community leaders among these young people.”
Stating that taking care of orphans is a sign of the conscience of societies, Kurtulmuş said, “Orphans hold particular importance in our culture and civilization. Whoever breaks an orphan’s heart destroys the world; whoever wins an orphan’s heart wins the world.”
Stating that while they are carrying out this activity for orphans in Grand-Bassam, unfortunately, in another part of the world, in the Gaza lands of Palestine, many children have become orphans due to the attacks of Israel, Kurtulmuş said,
“Under Israel’s attacks, 30,000 people were killed in five months, 75 percent of whom were women, the elderly and children. I respectfully bow before the memory of all the innocent people who have lost their lives in Gaza. In Grand-Bassam, I would like to express that taking care of all our orphaned children is a duty of humanity. I hope that we all will be able to build a world where children are not orphaned, women are not drawn apart from their families, the elderly are not killed without reason, and a world where equity, justice, mercy and conscience prevail.
