International NGOs and relief agencies operating in and from Turkey are watching for signs as to how President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s state of emergency declaration could impact their operations, employees, and missions, following an attempted coup on his government last week.
Although no aid organizations have yet found themselves ensnared in a subsequent crackdown on civil society, experts urged vigilance and suggested monitoring any rhetorical attacks in the local press. Erdogan could use the mostly pro-government media to test the reaction to linking international NGOs to the coup, said Steven Cook, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
More than 10,000 people have been detained since some parts of the Turkish military attempted to take control of the government on July 15. Thousands of public and private sector employees have also been suspended or fired.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
