Turkish humanitarian aid jumps by one-quarter

Turkey's international aid rose nearly 24 percent last year to reach $967 million, surpassing that of many European countries, according to a new Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report. Turkey's leap took place amid total aid from all donor countries of $129 billion, according to the report by the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). European Union members of DAC provided a total of $70.2 billion, and Turkey outpaced Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Poland, Hungary and Luxembourg. "Turkey's contribution to international aid has a lot to do with its growing role in global economics and politics," said Veysel Ayhan of the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM). According to Ayhan, Turkey's contributions to international aid are in line with its attempt to build its role and influence in conflict regions. On Turkey's aid to Haiti after last year's devastating earthquake, Ayhan said Turkey was spreading an important message to the world. "It showed the world that Turkey is keen to help a non-Muslim society in a time of crisis."