Turkey will host the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Head Of States Summit today. The OTS is a cooperative and
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) leaders will meet today to discuss joint disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts. Photo: Akorda
Turkey will host the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Head Of States Summit today.
The OTS is a cooperative and intergovernmental organization consisting of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, along with a handful of other observer status Turkic states. Today’s meeting, themed “Disaster-Emergency Management and Humanitarian Assistance,” will discuss regional disaster preparation, joint humanitarian relief, and interoperability of Turkic State disaster responses. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, and its fallout, will also be mentioned in discourse today.
This February Turkey was ravaged by a series of deadly earthquakes that paused economic activity and killed more than 30,000 people. Makeshift housing to support refugees and a poor economic position – exacerbated by slow-moving disaster relief action from President Recep and the military – have made the situation dire.
Despite the multitude of Eurasian geopolitical and economic concerns in recent years and Ankara’s current economic troubles, it is likely the Turkic heads of states will take immediate action to support disaster relief and revaluate humanitarian aid cooperation – namely economic support, housing for displaced citizens, and access to basic amenities. The Turkic Investment Fund is likely to be reviewed to include disaster relief settlements following its establishment at the 9th OTS Summit last year.
