Assembly of global aid body concludes in Turkey

By Meryem Goktas and Seyit Ahmet Aytac

ANTALYA, Turkey

The seven-day summit of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) concluded in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city Antalya on Saturday.

Around 1,500 guests from Turkish and international aid organizations attended the IFRC general eeting from Nov. 5-11. Humanitarian crises in Myanmar, Somalia, Iraq and Syria were discussed in the summit.

The assembly also elected a new IFRC president as well as four vice presidents -- including Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik as vice president for the Europe region -- and board members for the next four years.

Kinik was elected as vice president for Europe region. He received 116 votes out of 189.

Italy’s Francesco Rocca was elected as IFRC president after securing 98 votes. Rocca, who is also the head of the Italian Red Cross, has in the past served as the organization's vice president.

Senegal’s Abdoul Azize Diallo, running unopposed, was elected vice president for the Africa region, Venezuela’s Miguel Angel Villarroel Sierraalta for the Americas and China’s Chen Zhu was elected as vice president for the Asia Pacific Region.

Henry Davison Award

At the gala dinner on the first day of the summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke about the current refugee situation in Turkey and emphasized that the country will remain at the forefront in dealing with humanitarian crises.

During the event, a short film about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was shown to the audience. Also a dance troupe performed traditional Turkish dance.

On the second day of the event, the IFRC general assembly paid tribute to Red Cross and Red Crescent’s volunteers and staff, who lost their lives in the line of duty during the opening ceremony.

At the ceremony, former IFRC President Tadateru Konoe also addressed the audience and thanked the Turkish Red Crescent, its president and staff for their generous efforts.

On Thursday,Turkish Red Crescent Society officials paid a visit to the newly elected IFRC president Francesco Rocca.

Kinik also held meetings with his counterparts from America, Britain, Spain, Denmark, Somalia and Northern Cyprus.

On Friday, the IFRC’s newly elected president handed the Turkish Red Crescent the Henry Davison Award for its efforts to aid Syrian refugees in Turkey.