Experiences of professionals and forcibly displaced youth within the humanitarian system: a qualitative study in Türkiye


Karadag O., Öntaş E., Sunata U., Orhon N., Yildiz E., Mucin C.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, cilt.35, sa.Supplement_6, ss.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Özet
  • Cilt numarası: 35 Sayı: Supplement_6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaf180.363
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), ABI/INFORM, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Index Islamicus, MEDLINE, Political Science Complete, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Abstract
Aims Türkiye hosts one of the largest forcibly displaced populations, accounting for 10 percent of global cross-border displacement. This study aimed to examine perceptions and recommendations of humanitarian professionals and affected populations regarding the humanitarian system, with a focus on health. Methods The study had a qualitative design, including semi-structured interviews with 22 humanitarian professionals and a photovoice study with 29 displaced youth. Data was collected in Nov-Dec 2024 following ethical approval. Interviews and photovoice discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically, alongside iconographic-iconologic analysis of photos taken by young people. Results The qualitative interview group included 13 female and 9 male professionals working in local, national and international NGOs in Türkiye. Their professional backgrounds were mostly health-related (physician, dentist, psychologist, dietician), with a few from education and social work sectors. The photovoice study involved 21 female and 8 male youth, aged between 18-25 years. Young people predominantly migrated from Syria, followed by Afghanistan and Pakistan, and were residing in Ankara, an urban setting, and Hatay, a smaller province near the border, which was hit by a major earthquake in 2023. Findings indicated a variety of challenges faced by professionals and affected populations within the humanitarian system, but also notable strengths and opportunities regarding the health care system and humanitarian NGOs. Humanitarian efforts in a prolonged crisis situation were affected by dynamic social, cultural, and economic factors, including the effects of the pandemic in 2020-2022 and the devastating earthquake in 2023. Conclusion When considering the health needs of millions of displaced people, with half of them being children and youth, there is a need for more international solidarity, as well as more localization efforts at the system level, in addition to more inclusive and health-promoting approaches for young people. Keywords Humanitarian professionals, displaced youth, photovoice