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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan authored an opinion piece for the Spanish newspaper El Pais titled "Compassion Beyond Borders: Alliance of Civilizations and Humanitarian Diplomacy" on World Humanitarian Day, emphasizing Türkiye's commitment to global humanitarian aid efforts.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran announced on social media that Erdogan's article was published in Spanish in El Pais and shared on the Communications Directorate's website to mark World Humanitarian Day on Aug. 19.
In the article, Erdogan made firm commitments regarding Palestinian support and criticized Israeli policies in Gaza.
"We will continue to be in the field with all our capabilities for the Palestinian people to achieve a free, dignified, and prosperous future," Erdogan wrote.
"Israel's inhuman siege, starvation, and collective punishment policies implemented in Gaza recently are trampling not only international law but also the conscience of humanity," he stated.
In the article, Erdogan emphasized that humanitarian aid is above politics and highlighted peace as achievable only through mutual respect.
Erdogan wrote that peace, security, and common prosperity are only possible through a cooperative approach based on mutual respect, justice, and sincerity among peoples.
"Wars, hunger, irregular migration, and climate disasters have confronted us with the heaviest test in human history. Today, on World Humanitarian Day, the bitter reality before us is that over 300 million people are deprived of the most basic human needs."
"This picture is a truth that shakes humanity's conscience and calls the whole world to responsibility," Erdogan wrote.
The Turkish president emphasized the strategic importance of relations between Türkiye and Spain, describing them as two ancient friends representing strong civilizations on opposite ends of the Mediterranean.
He noted that beyond bilateral political relations, the momentum achieved with Spain in the economy, trade, energy, and defense industry carries strategic importance for Europe-Mediterranean stability.
"Spain is one of our most reliable allies in NATO. The Patriot Air Defense System stationed in Adana is a concrete and strong expression of this," Erdogan wrote.
"Spain's sincere support for our European Union membership process reflects the depth of our common goals. We are determined to crown this strategic partnership with strong steps we will develop together against regional and global challenges," Erdogan stated.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations, Erdogan emphasized the importance of viewing differences as enrichment rather than sources of conflict.
"In the 20th year of the Alliance of Civilizations, our understanding that accepts differences not as elements of conflict but as richness gives a message of hope and solidarity to oppressed peoples in this period when global crises are experienced," he wrote.
"As Türkiye, with our deep humanitarian aid tradition from our history, our helping hand extended to every geography without looking at the identity and faith of the oppressed is the strongest indicator of our will to defend human dignity and make our conscience heard."
"In this sense, Spain is also a strong partner of this conscientious stance with its deep-rooted humanitarian aid tradition," Erdogan continued.
Erdogan highlighted Türkiye's position in global humanitarian aid, describing it as one of the world's most generous countries.
"As Türkiye, we act with the understanding that 'The pain experienced by one of us is a common cry that resonates in all our consciences.'"
Erdogan wrote, noting that Türkiye ranks among the world's most generous countries in humanitarian aid relative to its gross national product.
He recalled the 2016 U.N. World Humanitarian Summit held in Istanbul as a turning point that globally confirmed Türkiye's position in humanitarian aid.
The president outlined Türkiye's comprehensive humanitarian aid operations across multiple continents, mentioning organizations including AFAD, TIKA, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish Religious Foundation, and numerous civil society organizations that touch millions of lives not only in crisis moments but also with long-term development and solidarity projects.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye conducts humanitarian aid activities in coordination with international organizations across a wide geography extending from Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon in the near region to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and Latin America.
"Türkiye has not remained indifferent to humanitarian crises in Africa from past to present," Erdogan wrote, recalling his 2011 visit to Mogadishu during Somalia's severe drought disaster.
He mentioned subsequent humanitarian mobilization for Somalia, including irrigation systems for sustainable development, and ongoing support for Sudan, where over 30 million people need humanitarian aid, according to U.N. data.
Erdogan detailed aid to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Afghanistan relief efforts through "Goodness Trains" since 2022, and support for Latin America and Caribbean natural disasters.
He emphasized that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Türkiye provided vaccine and medicine support to over 160 countries, demonstrating global solidarity.
Addressing the Gaza situation specifically, Erdogan provided concrete figures for Turkish assistance.
"Since Oct. 7, the loss of life of more than 61,000 innocents and more than 2 million people being left homeless while deprived of basic human needs has gone down in history as a black stain," he noted.
"Türkiye has delivered more than 101,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza so far and has carried out a humanitarian mobilization exceeding 40 million dollars with the support it provided to UNRWA," he wrote.
Erdogan concluded by emphasizing the non-political nature of humanitarian assistance.
"Although the global crises, geopolitical tensions and conflicts the world faces make our humanitarian aid activities difficult, we will never give up these efforts in every geography where they are needed. Because humanitarian aid is above politics, it is a matter of conscience," he stated.
The president praised Spain's humanitarian tradition and partnership with Türkiye, particularly thanking Spanish rescue experts and medical personnel who assisted after the Feb. 6 earthquakes, which he described as the "disaster of the century."
"Spain is also a strong partner of this conscientious stance with its deep-rooted humanitarian aid tradition," Erdogan wrote.
He emphasized that Türkiye and Spain, as two friends strongly committed to universal values on both sides of the Mediterranean, one of the world's oldest civilization basins, represent strong allies under NATO.
"The disaster drills we conduct under the NATO umbrella, humanitarian aid to irregular migrants, and the support we give each other in difficult times are concrete evidence of this brotherhood."
"The spirit of solidarity carries the two peoples to a strong unity of hearts beyond geography. Here, by joining hands in line with these common ideals, we wholeheartedly believe that we will build a more just world that puts people and human values at the center," Erdogan concluded.
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