Turkey has become a humanitarian hub: Disaster agency head

The Turkish government is planning to turn Istanbul into a global humanitarian hub and to export its expertise and experience on the issue to the world, Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) Director General Fuat Oktay has said, adding that Turkey is introducing a "new approach" to providing humanitarian aid.

Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) Director
General Fuat Oktay (L) and HDN reporter Serkan Demirta?.  "I may comfortably say that Turkey is far ahead of all countries, and even of the U.N., in humanitarian actions, thanks to the system we have developed, which is based on the principle of interoperability,"Oktay told reporters on the sidelines of preparatory meetings in Budapest for the next year's World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), to be held in Istanbul.

The May 2016 summit will be a first of its kind, with the U.N., non-governmental organizations and private sector representatives coming together to discuss ways to bring about more efficient and better functioning system in the delivery of humanitarian aid. The summit is expected to contribute to Turkey's efforts to turn Istanbul into a humanitarian hub. The country's largest city already hosts a number of U.N. bodies, including the regional offices of the U.N. Development Agency, UNICEF, the U.N. Women's Fund and the U.N. Population Fund.

"This summit will be another step toward making Istanbul and Turkey a humanitarian hub. Istanbul has become an important center in recent years," Oktay said, adding that Turkey's "increasing role in global affairs" and its response to the refugee crisis stemming from Syria and Iraq, as well as work elsewhere, are also important factors.

"Turkey is hosting more than 1,650,000 Syrians on its soil, as well as...