The Humanitarian Situation, The Turkmens and Turkey’s Humanitarian Assistance to Iraq After ISIS Operations

The instability in Iraq in 2014 caused by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) intensified in June and reached a peak when ISIS captured Iraq’s second largest city Mosul on 10 June 2014. The chaos that ISIS has created caused thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Turkey did not stay silent on the humanitarian tragedy in Iraq and became the first country to help. Turkey sent humanitarian aid to all Iraqis regardless of their ethnicity, religion or language. The Iraqi Turkmens also received aid from Turkey. This policy brief examines the ISIS operations since the onset of 2014 and the Iraqi Turkmens’ immigration caused by the ISIS advance. Turkey’s assistance to Iraq and the Turkmens in the wake of the immigration will be touched upon. Lastly, there will be suggestions about other important issues to be addressed besides the assistance provided to the Turkmens in the context of Turkey’s intervention to the humanitarian crisis and the immigrants’ needs.