GPPi analyzes Turkey and Russia at World Conference on Humanitarian Studies

At the World Conference on Humanitarian Studies, which took place in Istanbul from 24 – 27 October 2013, GPPi’s Andrea Binder and Julian Lehmann both participated in a panel on rising powers as humanitarian donors. Binder discussed Turkey’s humanitarian assistance, while Lehmann examined Russia’s motivations in aiding Syrians.

The World Conference on Humanitarian Studies is an annual event organized by the Humanitarian Studies Association. This year’s program took place at Kadir Has University and was combined with the annual Istanbul Human Security Conference.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organized the panel that Binder and Lehmann were part of. They were joined by academics from India and Brazil as well as representatives from the ICRC, the international NGO Médecins sans Frontières and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief.

Binder concentrated on Turkey, now the fourth largest humanitarian donor worldwide. As the only international donor operating out of Somalia’s capital, and as a frequent supporter in crises where other donors remain cautious, Turkey has kept the humanitarian community on its toes. The collaborative relationship between the government, faith-based businesses and the religious part of a divided civil society in financing and implementing humanitarian assistance appears to be a unique feature of Turkey. This setup, argued Binder, calls for an informed approach toward working with specific Turkish actors.

For his part, Lehmann presented a study on Russian humanitarian aid to Syrians. Russia remains the most visible donor from the BRIC states. The war in Syria has actually altered Russian humanitarian spending. It multiplied tenfold its donations to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, indirectly funding NGOs. For the first time, Russia contributed funds to the Red Cross/​Red Crescent Movement. Lehmann doubted, however, if these changes would persist beyond the Syrian war. Russia’s humanitarian spending and policy in Syria are motivated by the country’s desire to show concern over Syrian civilians, ambition to be seen on par with other major powers, and a fear in rising jihadism.