Engaged in Trade

In my previous article, I reported on Turkish Red Crescent's (TRC) sale of tents to AHBAP. I thought that such a humanitarian organization wouldn’t engage in trade during a crisis. However, it appears that TRC was indeed involved in trading while people desperately needed tents. To summarize, TRC had 40,000 tents in stock. An additional 14,000 tents were acquired, making a total of 54,000 tents given to AFAD. Yet, they also sold tents worth 46 million TL to AHBAP from their production facility. Haluk Levent revealed on FOX TV that TRC also sold canned beans and chickpeas. You heard that right—this information, which I had mentioned in my previous article, has been confirmed. Additionally, TRC redirected its stock and aid to various community and religious organizations. These organizations then collected donations from the public, claiming to provide aid while relying on TRC and AFAD for their needs.

Companies Also Purchased Tents

The main issue here is TRC. The organization’s president stated that “if AHBAP hadn’t bought them, we would have given the tents to AFAD.” But did they sell tents only to AHBAP? No. During our time of greatest need, while people were shivering in the cold searching for tents, TRC sold tents at “cost price” to other organizations and companies. On the first day of the earthquake, the Turkish Pharmacists Association (TEB) attempted to deploy in the affected area. They searched for containers and tents but could not find any. When they inquired at TRC, they were told, “We have tents,” and negotiations began. Unfortunately, TEB bought five 76-square-meter tents for 800,000 TL each. A public institution that provides free medicine to those in need purchased tents from TRC at 160,000 TL each. Were these the only organizations? For example, the French tire company Michelin also bought tents for 19,000 TL each, and OPET purchased tents at the same price. Arçelik bought 100 tents for 2.24 million TL. And it’s not just tents—TRC has sold second-hand items as well!

You Will Have to Account for This!

According to TRC’s 2021 activity report, the organization sold 1 million second-hand items in 2019 and 759,000 in 2020. Managed by a general manager with a salary of 98,000 TL and a deputy general manager earning 76,000 TL, TRC’s current practices are disheartening. If AHBAP or another aid organization had not desperately sought tents or paid these prices, it seems TRC would have continued to hold onto its tents. They would have ignored the children I saw with bloody faces and coughs, failing to send them tents. This isn’t just about TRC—there’s more to this. I wasn’t joking when I said that they will have to account for their actions.