Turkey

Country Information

Founded: 1200 (as The Ottoman Empire) 1922 (as The Republic of Turkey)
Land Area: 780,580 Square Kilometers (Slightly larger than Texas)
Climate: hot and dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in the interior
Agricultural Land Usability: 30%
Natural Hazards: severe earthquakes especially in northern Turkey
Environmental issues: deforestation, water and air pollution, oil spill concerns along coastline

The People

Population: 70,413,958
Infant Mortality Rate: 40 deaths / 1000 births
Life Expectancy: 73 years
Major Diseases: no common risk
Religions: 99% Muslim, 1% Christians and Jews
Literacy Rate: 87%
Unemployment rate: 11%
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: : 22%

Special Conditions

Estimations place 1,000,000 internally displaced persons due to the fighting between Kurdish PKK and Turkish military; most are along the southeastern provinces.

Identifying the Need

Kurdish refugees along the southeast live in harsh conditions with a great level of poverty. Education and food aid are heavy need for the refugees as well as pockets of non-refugees who are impoverished.

Ramadan Programs

For a few years now The Zakat Foundation has been providing iftar meals in Turkey as well as food distributions to poor communities.

As in other countries, this is meant to be a blessing to the Muslim community during Ramadan and to help our donors fulfill any obligations they have to compensate for fasting as well as for general blessings of sadaqah.

Udhiya / Qurbani Distribution

The slaughter and distribution of Udhiya meats is taken care of us by the same people who help us identify the poor communities for Ramadan distribution. We receive a good price for the animals of Udhiya and are able to pass on the low cost to our donors to fulfill their duty on the Eid ul-Adha.

Orphan Care

Currently we are sponsoring 10 orphans in Turkey, but with the upcoming establishment of a school (see below) that number should increase.

Orphans in Turkey are placed with family and this sponsorship is to help supplement the care and to help the family provide all that is needed.

School Establishment

In fall of 2006 The Zakat Foundation began construction of a school to serve poor children in Turkey. The school should be completed in spring of 2007 and will serve grades 1-8 with a good level of education; teaching children in Islamic studies as well as standard curriculum.