Introduction
The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH, İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri İnsani Yardım Vakfı) was established in İstanbul in 1995 as a foundation, formalizing the humanitarian aid efforts initiated by volunteers during the Bosnian War, which broke out in 1992. Today, the purpose of the IHH, which operates in 123 countries, is to reach out to those who have been negatively affected by war, occupation, and natural disasters, and to support those in need with in-kind and cash assistance, as well as with permanent projects.
IHH carries out “humanitarian diplomacy” activities for “preventing human rights violations” in addition to emergency aid, social aid, education, and health assistance. The charity works to bring regions experiencing rights violations onto the agenda, inform the public, non-governmental organizations, opinion leaders, and politicians about the injustices experienced, and take concrete steps towards a solution by raising awareness on this matter.
