Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided humanitarian aid to rural communities facing harsh weather conditions in the high-altitude Huancavelica region of Peru, one of the areas most severely affected by climate change.
As part of the aid activities carried out in cooperation with the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and the Huancavelica Regional Government, coats, boots, and blankets were distributed to rural indigenous communities living at approximately 4,000 meters above sea level, who primarily rely on livestock for their livelihoods.
The local population, whose living conditions had become increasingly difficult and whose economic activities were disrupted due to extreme cold, entered the winter season better prepared thanks to TİKA’s support. The aid provided to those in need—particularly the elderly, children, women, and individuals working outdoors—was warmly welcomed by the people of the region.
The relief operation aimed to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable communities living at high altitudes under harsh weather conditions, while also strengthening their resilience. It further stood out as a strong example of a community-based response to climate change and international solidarity.
Climate Crisis and Poverty in Rural Peru
Between 2022 and 2023, extreme poverty increased in 20 of Peru’s 24 regions. In Huancavelica—one of the hardest-hit areas—a quarter of the population, approximately 350,000 people, falls into the extreme poverty category according to official records.
The extreme cold season, which has intensified in the region due to climate change, is severely impacting rural families, particularly those who depend on farming and alpaca breeding for their livelihoods. With limited resources to meet even their basic clothing needs, many struggle to fight cold-related illnesses. Food security also remains a serious concern across the region.
Increasing Resilience Through Alpaca Farming
The Alpaca Farm project, established by TİKA in 2024 in the region, has made a significant contribution to sustaining alpaca breeding, which is increasingly threatened by climate change. As part of the project—developed to support farmers facing challenges such as early frosts, irregular rainfall, drought, and diminishing water resources—it was reported that no newborn alpacas died from freezing or lack of resources within the first year.
Projects like these, carried out by TİKA in rural Peru, provide not only humanitarian assistance but also crucial support for local development, food security, and resilience to the climate crisis.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) opened a neonatal intensive care unit at Port Hospital in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan.
The opening ceremony was attended by Sudanese Minister of Health, Heysem Muhammed Ibrahim; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Khartoum, Fatih Yıldız; and TİKA’s Coordinator in Sudan, Galip Yılmaz.
Minister Ibrahim expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the government and the people of Türkiye in Sudan.
Stating that the cooperation between the two countries in the health sector has led to the implementation of many projects, including training, and treatment protocols, Ibrahim emphasized the significance of Türkiye’s support for the rehabilitation of Suakin Hospital and the establishment of Turkish hospitals across the country.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Khartoum, Fatih Yıldız, noted that health is one of the key areas of Türkiye’s cooperation with Sudan, highlighting that hospitals built by TİKA in various states of Sudan—both before and after the war—are well known and appreciated by the Sudanese people.
Underlining the special importance they placed on healthcare during this period, Yıldız pointed out that Port Sudan currently serves as the country’s temporary administrative center and hosts a large number of displaced people. He explained that Port Hospital is heavily burdened and that the newly established neonatal clinic, and intensive care unit will help meet urgent needs.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) contributed to the development of athletes by providing a transportation vehicle and sports equipment to the Rugvica Municipality Sports Clubs Association in Croatia.
As part of the project, TİKA donated a shuttle bus to the Rugvica Municipality Sports Clubs Association, located near the capital, Zagreb, to facilitate athletes’ participation in national and international tournaments. Additionally, sports equipment was provided to the Silver Eagle Rugvica Savate Club.
The service vehicle provided by TİKA facilitates the participation of athletes in tournaments organized in Croatia and neighboring countries, while the equipment support strengthens their training and competition preparation. These contributions aim to enhance the capacity of the Rugvica Municipality Sports Clubs Association and encourage greater athletic success.
Rugvica Municipality supports 10 different sports clubs in its efforts to promote sports at the grassroots level and to raise healthy, active and young individuals. As recent sporting achievements have increased the need for improved infrastructure, TİKA’s support has helped to bridge this gap.
The Silver Eagle Rugvica Savate Club, which attracted significant attention with its 50 athletes despite being established only three years ago, stands out with the medals it won at international tournaments and the events it hosted. Young athletes from the clubs under the municipality’s umbrella continue to successfully represent the region by earning notable achievements at both national and international competitions.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in cooperation with the West African Women’s Association (AFAO), provided agricultural equipment to the training center operating in the Gorom region of Senegal.
The solar-powered agricultural product dryer with shelves/grids, along with grain grinding and peeling machines and tomato and peanut processing machines supplied by TİKA, have been made available for use by women farmers.
AFAO, which operates on fertile agricultural lands along the Atlantic Ocean coast, provides certified agricultural training to approximately 3,000 women farmers, enabling them to package and market fruits, vegetables, and various agricultural products under a cooperative brand. In this way, women are encouraged to actively participate in production and contribute to their family incomes.
Within the scope of the project implemented with the support of TİKA, the technical capacity of the training center will be enhanced, and the market value of the women farmers’ products will be increased. Speaking at the opening ceremony, AFAO President Khady Fall Tall thanked Türkiye and TİKA, stating that the support provided will significantly contribute to the economic empowerment of women farmers and help enhance their family incomes.
TİKA continues to contribute to development cooperation through projects that support women’s participation in economic life across the region.
In cooperation with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Turkish Administrative Research Foundation (TIAV), the presentation of the book “Uzbekistan: State, Society and Migration” and its associated research project was held in Samarkand.
Edited by Onur Ender Aslan and contributed to by 14 academics, the book offers a multifaceted exploration of Uzbekistan. Based on field studies and empirical data, it stands out as one of the most comprehensive works on this subject produced in Türkiye.
The launch event attracted significant interest from Uzbek academic circles. Interviews with local authorities and field observations provided valuable data on the country’s social structure and development strategies.
In addition to strengthening academic and cultural ties between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, the project also paved the way for the establishment of a sustainable cooperation network between academics from both countries.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a biochemistry laboratory at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Sarajevo.
The faculty educates more than 1,000 students annually across seven different programs. With the addition of the new biochemistry laboratory, it has expanded its capacity for hands-on education and accelerated its academic activities, particularly for graduate programs.
TİKA’s President, Serkan Kayalar; Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, Arzija Pašalić; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık; along with university faculty members and students, attended the opening ceremony held on the faculty’s campus in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In his speech, Kayalar emphasized that the University of Sarajevo is one of the country’s most established educational institutions, and that among its distinguished alumni is the first President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegović.
Noting that TİKA has been implementing projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 30 years, Kayalar said “I hope this project will be beneficial for our professors and students. We are confident that with the addition of the biochemistry laboratory—which will contribute to the biological analysis and interpretation of tests in the diagnosis and treatment processes—our brothers and sisters graduating from here will make significant contributions that touch human lives.”
After inaugurating the laboratory, Kayalar spent time speaking with the students studying there and received information about their education.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a physical therapy and rehabilitation center at the Sarajevo Social and Health Care Accommodation Center for Persons with Disabilities and Other Persons, located in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With the support provided to the center, which operates under the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees, and hosts approximately 180 mentally and physically disabled adults, the rehabilitation opportunities for elderly individuals, and those with special needs have been significantly enhanced.
The center offers services across five different areas: the paraplegic section, palliative care section, dementia section, and mobile sections for men and women. Thanks to the furnishing and equipment support provided by TİKA, the center has become the health institution with the most comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation facilities in Sarajevo Canton.
An opening ceremony was held
The physical therapy and rehabilitation center was inaugurated with the participation of Serkan Kayalar, TİKA’s President; and Miralem Dedović, Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of Sarajevo Canton.
Speaking at the ceremony, TİKA President Serkan Kayalar emphasized that anyone may find themselves in need of care at some point in their lives due to illness or old age, and expressed his gratitude to the healthcare personnel working with great dedication in these institutions.
Kayalar expressed his satisfaction with the improvement in the quality of physical therapy and rehabilitation services at the center, made possible through TİKA’s support.
Following the opening ceremony, Kayalar spoke with individuals receiving treatment at the center and exchanged Eid al-Fitr greetings with the residents.
As part of the “Emergency and Disaster Response Training Program (ADAMEP)” carried out by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), advanced “Urban Search and Rescue Training” programs for Moldovan National Search and Rescue personnel are ongoing.
Moldovan experts, who received basic-level training during the first phase held from 21 to 25 October 2024, participated in the advanced “Urban Search and Rescue Training” organized between 24 and 28 March 2025.
The training sessions were conducted by five expert trainers from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), in cooperation with TİKA and the Moldovan General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU).
The program, attended by 30 experts from the Moldovan National Search and Rescue team, aimed to enhance the teams’ knowledge and skills.
Certificate ceremony organized
The certificate ceremony held at the end of the training sessions was attended by Alexandru Oprea, Director General of the Moldovan General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations; Gözde Dilektaşlı, First Türkiye’s Secretary of the Embassy in Chișinău; Ali Abbas Eyüpoğlu, Interior Counselor; and Tarık Mete, TİKA’s Program Coordinator in Chișinău.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General Oprea thanked the Republic of Türkiye, TİKA, and AFAD, saying: “Thanks to these training programs, we are gaining valuable experience from highly qualified Turkish experts. We place great importance on experience sharing and hope that this cooperation will continue for many years to come.”
Noting that Moldova is in the process of obtaining international certification for its National Search and Rescue team, Oprea emphasized that such training programs make a significant contribution to the process.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Chișinău Tarık Mete stated that sharing Türkiye’s experience in disaster and emergency management with friendly and brotherly countries is among TİKA’s priorities. He added, “We are planning to organize additional training programs in this field in the coming period.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the participants.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) delivered live broadcast vehicles equipped with modern technology to the Tuzla Canton Radio Television Institution and BİR TV, part of the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
TİKA, which carried out dozens of projects over the years in capacity building, training, and experience sharing for the media sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported Tuzla Canton Radio Television Institution—one of the country’s most-watched media organizations—and the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With this initiative, both institutions are now equipped with modern live broadcast vehicles, enabling them to deliver real-time, high-resolution broadcasts directly from the field.
TİKA’s President, Serkan Kayalar; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sadık Babür Girgin; President of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein ef. Kavazović; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık; Tuzla Canton Radio and Television Director, Eldar Ibrišimović; Director of the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Muamer Tinjak, and other officials attended the ceremony.
TİKA’s President Serkan Kayalar, speaking at the delivery ceremony of the live broadcast vehicles, expressed his satisfaction with the realization of this project, which will contribute concretely to the further development of the media sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kayalar emphasized that TİKA places great importance on the media sector and affirmed that TİKA will continue to support media projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed food packages to 6,600 families in need as part of its Ramadan program across Palestine. In addition, food support was provided to soup kitchens, nursing homes, and orphanages.
While technical development projects implemented by TİKA continue in Palestine, where unemployment and poverty rates have reached historic levels following the Gaza war, humanitarian aid for the month of Ramadan is also being delivered to those in need.
As part of the 17 projects and activities planned for the 2025 Palestine Ramadan Program, TİKA Ramadan Kitchen established in Gaza continues to distribute iftar meals throughout the month of Ramadan. Food packages were also provided to 2,500 families living in tents in the central and northern regions of Gaza.
In total, 4,100 families received support, including those in refugee camps, Bedouin communities, Palestinian Turkmens, and individuals with disabilities. The program, which covers a wide area including the West Bank cities of Jericho, Nablus, Hebron, and Jenin, continues to provide essential aid.
Soup kitchens were not forgotten
TİKA did not forget the soup kitchens, which are an integral part of the region’s historical and cultural heritage. Basic food supplies were provided to the Prophet Abraham Sufi Lodge Soup Kitchen in Hebron, the Haseki Sultan Soup Kitchen in Jerusalem—serving for 500 years—, the Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Soup Kitchen, and the Prophet Noah Sufi Lodge Soup Kitchen in South Hebron, enabling them to prepare iftar meals. In addition, aid was provided to the nursing home in Jenin and the kitchen of the Kufr Nima Children’s Association, which serves orphans.
As part of the TİKA 2025 Ramadan program, a total of over 100 tons (6,600 packages) of food were distributed across Palestine. Moreover, the food provided to soup kitchens, nursing homes, and other facilities will help distribute approximately 120,000 iftar meals by the end of Ramadan.
TİKA continues its efforts to ensure that the Palestinian people can observe the month of Ramadan in peace.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported the “Joint Iftar and Solidarity Day with Orphans” program in Ghana during Ramadan, uniting Turkish citizens and orphans in a spirit of togetherness.
Ghana, a West African nation with a population of 36 million, has a significant Muslim community and is home to many active Turkish citizens and institutions. In this context, TİKA, in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Accra and the Ghana Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation, organized an iftar program under the theme “Joint Iftar and Solidarity Day with Orphans”.
Approximately 1,000 people, including Turkish citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaian stakeholders of Turkish missions, officials from the Ghana Presidency of Religious Affairs, and orphans, attended the program. The event was hosted at the Ghana National Mosque, which was built by the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation.
During the program, Turkish Ambassador to Accra, Hüseyin Güngör; TİKA’s Deputy Coordinator in Niamey, Serdar Uyan; and Remzi Şeker from the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation delivered speeches, sharing their heartfelt wishes for the month of Ramadan.
Through this meaningful initiative, TİKA extended its support to both the Turkish community in Ghana and the local population, fostering a spirit of unity and solidarity in West Africa.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided food assistance to disadvantaged families and the Muslim minority in Mexico. Similar humanitarian aid efforts were also carried out in Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic during the month of Ramadan.
As part of its Ramadan initiatives, TİKA distributed food packages to the Muslim minority and families in need living in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
As part of the program implemented by TİKA, food packages were distributed to 300 families living in the municipalities of Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero, and Azcapotzalco. Additionally, gift packages containing stationery supplies were provided to 100 children in the region.
The distribution ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Mexico, Murat Salim Esenli; TİKA’s Coordinator in Mexico, Fatih Abdi Çetin; local Muslim community leaders, and approximately 300 beneficiary families.
In his speech, Ambassador Esenli expressed his hope that the month of Ramadan would bring peace and well-being to Mexico and the world.
Food parcels delivered to those in need in San Cristóbal de las Casas
TİKA extended its Ramadan aid beyond Mexico City, reaching the Muslim community in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
In this region, food parcels were distributed to those in need, along with special Ramadan packages prepared for children.
Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to solidarity during Ramadan, TİKA carried out similar humanitarian aid efforts not only in Mexico but also in Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic throughout the holy month in 2025.
