Caritas Turkey

Founded 1951

200

Staff and volunteers

2,000

Beneficiaries

About Caritas Turkey

Caritas was established in Türkiye in the 1950s, but it was in 1991 that Caritas Turkey was officially born by the will of the Bishops’ Conference of Turkey (CET). Caritas Turkey is a member of Caritas Internationalis and aims to create an active, equal, and cohesive community and society that takes action to support and advocate for the vulnerable and poor without discrimination of race and creed.

Caritas Turkey comprises a National Office in Istanbul and three Diocesan Offices in the Anatolia region (Iskenderun), Istanbul, and Izmir. The National Office is a coordination and supervision body, while the Diocesan Offices oversee implementing the services at the local level, including humanitarian assistance through listening centres and community facilitators.

The Intervention and Strategic Orientations of Caritas Turkey include Migration, Local community support and mobilization, Organizational Development, and Emergency.

Since February 2023, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that left many cities in the south of Turkey in rubbles, Caritas Turkey has been conducting aid activities firstly with the Rapid Response Appeal, which was then replaced by the long-term project, Emergency Appeal, that has been realized thanks to the cooperation and contributions of many Caritas member organizations. Caritas Turkey has been extensively involved in the region even though the disaster directly affected the Anatolian Diocesan Office and staff.

Throughout the emergency, Caritas Turkey provided the affected populations with shelter, food, water, clothes, hygiene kits, heating devices, and many other essential items. Besides, Caritas also supports the communities through livelihood projects as they try to rebuild their lives.

General information

Msgr. Paolo Bizzeti
President

Sr. Nazareth
Director

Address:
Harbiye Cayiri sok 64
Elmadag 80230
Istanbul
Turkey

Telephone: +90 212 23 44 564 | +90 212 24 08 801
Fax: +90 212 233 1193
Email: director@caritas-tr.org

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