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Three Turkish civil society organizations have released a detailed policy report on Syria's reconstruction, presenting recommendations across 18 academic and professional fields following four months of research and field assessments.
The "Syria Report: Foresights, Proposals, and Solutions" was presented Saturday at an event hosted by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University in Istanbul. The report, produced through collaboration between the Cihannuma Association, the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, and the Digital Hafiza Association, draws on contributions from 98 authors spanning disciplines from urban planning to healthcare.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of learning from past conflicts to prevent future atrocities and ease Syria's path forward.
Nevzat Simsek, rector of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, said the report demonstrates that Syria's challenges require more than humanitarian assistance alone. The analyses "clearly show that the Syrian issue cannot be addressed solely from a humanitarian aid perspective," Simsek stated.
The university rector added that the report's framework could contribute to leveraging Türkiye's regional expertise in Syria's reconstruction efforts. The document includes short-, medium-, and long-term solutions for the country.
The research team adopted what organizers described as a "persuasion, construction, and revival" approach to Syria's reconstruction. Authors in fields including history, philosophy, law, politics, international relations, economics, education, media, urban planning, architecture, culture, health, science, engineering, and technology contributed to the report.
Research teams conducted on-site visits in Syria at various times to perform field assessments, according to event organizers. The report was edited by Professor Ismail Sahin, Associate Professor Yasar Kahraman, Associate Professor Bekir Gundogmus, and researcher Mehmet Altintas.
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Selim Cerrah, chairman of the Cihannuma Association, expressed gratitude to partner organizations for their contributions to the four-month study. Bulent Yildirim, president of IHH, noted his organization's work extends beyond Syria to Gaza, Africa, and other regions worldwide.
The presentation event included a screening of an IHH documentary on Syria and a panel discussion moderated by Professor Zekeriyya Kursun, a faculty member at the university. Panelists provided detailed information about the report's findings and recommendations.
Ali Erbas, former head of Türkiye's Religious Affairs Directorate, attended the event along with representatives from various non-governmental organizations. The report has been published in Turkish, English, and Arabic.
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