I will never forget the day at the Azez camp, just across the border, when we played a water fight with the children during the “Unlimited Festival.” With plastic buckets in their hands, they splashed each other before rushing off to catch the magician’s show. They wore worn-out clothes and muddy shoes, yet their eyes sparkled with a joy I had not seen for a long time. Organized by UMHD and IHH, the festival truck, street games, and science workshops brought smiles to the faces of tens of thousands of war-affected children. With school bags full of stationery, we prepared them for the new school year. That day, I realized that humanitarian aid is not only about providing food and shelter, but about giving children the chance to live their childhood again.

The Global Humanitarian Outlook and the Reality of Gaza

The United Nations declared August 19 as World Humanitarian Day to highlight the sacrifices of humanitarian workers and to amplify the voices of millions in need. According to the 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview, 305,1 million people across 72 countries are in urgent need of assistance, and nearly 400 million children are living in conflict zones. In 2023 alone, 363 climate disasters displaced 26,4 million people. These figures remind us that humanitarian aid must focus not only on responding to sudden disasters, but also on addressing prolonged wars and chronic crises.

In Gaza, the situation is even more dire. More than two years of continuous attacks have caused over 61,000 deaths and 151,000 injuries. With 86% of farmland destroyed and 1,9 million people displaced, survival often depends on aid. Civil society efforts continue to save lives: during Ramadan 2025, the Darül Eytam Foundation distributed hot meals to 3,500 people daily, during Eid al-Adha 2024, it delivered 60 tons of meat to 30,000 families. Since October 7, 2023, İDDEF has been supplying food, clean water, medicine, and fuel across Gaza. These examples reveal how essential humanitarian aid is, even under the harshest conditions.

Volunteering at the Syrian Border

In 2018 and 2019, I volunteered at the “Unlimited Festival,” which aimed to bring hope to children living in the Euphrates Shield region. From magic shows to science experiments, skipping rope, singing Turkish-Arabic songs, and even apple-biting contests on a string—children filled the air with joy. In the third year, 45 volunteers reached tens of thousands of children, setting the goal of meeting the stationery needs of 30,000 children. Hearing their laughter reminded me that even in the shadow of war, moments of happiness are still possible.

Humanitarian Aid in Your Street: Everyday Practices

Humanitarian aid is not limited to large projects. It can also begin in our own neighborhoods.

• A group of friends can distribute hundreds of food parcels each month.
• Visiting elderly or chronically ill neighbors and supporting them with health needs makes a difference.
• Offering language lessons, games, or psychosocial support to migrant children can help them integrate.
• Bringing a meal to a neighbor, smiling warmly, or saying “Welcome” to a stranger is also humanitarian aid.

Aid is not only material—it is also moral and emotional.

Migrant Stories and Epic Migrations

Since 2015, I have been sharing my field experiences, and since 2021 I have had the opportunity to amplify migrant voices through the Epic Migrations platform. Here, we listen to migrants tell their own stories.

• Dua: Once living a happy life in Aleppo, she lost her younger sister and father in a bombing at the local market. With her mother severely injured, the family came to Turkey for treatment. After İzmir, they settled in Konya, where she continued her education while struggling with language barriers. The support of local volunteers showed the family the vital importance of solidarity.
• Amine: From East Turkistan, she shared the difficulties of living in a place where families were forbidden to have a third child and even wearing black clothes was banned. “There are punishments for standing tall,” she said, “but I don’t want my destiny to be only struggle.” Now in Turkey, she continues her studies and dreams of working for her country in the future.

These stories make visible the human faces behind the statistics.

From Zanzibar to Turkey: Assalam Foundation and YEDAM

Humanitarian aid does not only flourish in war zones but also in diverse corners of the world. On Zanzibar Island in Tanzania, I worked with the Assalam Community Foundation, which since 2017 has been implementing sustainable projects in permaculture, education, art, and community empowerment. In Turkey, the Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM) provides free psychological and social support to individuals and families struggling with addiction, through a nationwide hotline and in-person counseling. Both experiences remind us that humanitarian aid is a language of solidarity across cultures and borders.

Conclusion and Invitation

I have witnessed many forms of humanitarian aid: I heard children’s laughter in war zones, distributed hot meals beside destroyed homes, and saw hope rekindled among young people struggling with addiction. Now it is your turn.

As Epic Migrations, we continue to amplify migrant voices and expand the circle of solidarity. We invite you to share your own humanitarian experiences with us. What acts of kindness are blossoming in your street, in your neighborhood? A smile, a bowl of soup, a story of volunteering—each one is invaluable.

Let us write the journey of humanitarian aid together.