Page 171 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

organizations, although not as much as the activities of the countries which have hosted
large numbers of Syrians in their lands. Various activities are continuing in Türkiye
with the contribution of the international community in this context. These activities
are valuable and should be supported in terms of sharing the overwhelming burden
that Türkiye has undertaken in this matter. At present, the international community
carries out these efforts through the organizations that have offices in Türkiye and the
international NGOs.

While the framework of international organizations’ work in Türkiye is determined by
international agreements and host country agreements, international NGOs must carry
out their activities within the framework of the Law of Associations No. 5253 and the
principles stated in this law. During the investigation and research phases of this study,
we have determined that there is no need for new regulations. International NGOs
obtain permission to conduct their activities in specific provinces and within specific
periods from the Department of Associations under the Ministry of Interior.

In addition, in the scope of this work, as a result of the interviews done with the
public institutions, NGOs, and people under temporary protection, we have found
that the international organizations’ and international NGOs’ activities mainly focus
on urban areas and border provinces which have easy transportation opportunities.
These activities tend to increase their visibility and recognition. Another aspect of the
study is that a substantial part of the activities of international NGOs are not carried
out within a program including relevant public agencies and local NGOs that will
provide burden sharing, maximize the effectiveness of the work, and ensure that the
resources are used more efficiently. Similarly, it appears that international NGOs and
international organizations conduct their activities on a project basis through grants
received from private donors and other international organizations. This creates some
concerns for the mid- and long-term sustainability of the work being undertaken and

the distribution of funding sources to the needy, which pass through a couple of hands.
For these reasons, in order to support the efforts of the international community
providing important contributions to this area through international organizations and
international NGOs; institutional coordination at the central and local level, including

international and local NGOs, should be established to ensure that the coordination
between these institutions and organizations is enhanced in cooperation with local
NGOs and public institutions, thereby ensuring that limited resources are used in the
most effective way and to maximize the benefits of those in need.

SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT 171