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yesilay.org.tr
48
YEŞiLAY
•
SPRING 2015
Having struggled against addictions for a century in Turkey
now, The Green Crescent establishes federation with the
help of its international organizations.
Operating in 21 countries such as Malaysia, Serbia, Lebanon,
Albania, Palestine, Bangladesh and Tanzania after a project
initiated in 2013, The Green Crescent has decided to establish
aWorld Green Crescents Federation in 2015.
Collaboration of this NGOwith international organizations
such as United Nations, European Union, European Council,
World’s Health Organization, Organization of Islamic Cooper-
ation and Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA)
provides an important support for the establishment of the
said confederation.
Indicating that the national and international projects will
continue without interruption as 100th year of The Green
Crescent’s establishment (2020) comes close, Professor
M.İhsan Karaman, Head of The Green Crescent Association,
expressed following: “The Green Crescent is a brand fighting
actively against addictions. We wish to export this brand
throughout the world. We serve as a model in preventing
addictions for all countries fromWest to East. Achievements
of Turkish Green Crescent inspire all countries and set a good
example before them.”
Countries where the Green Crescent is organized inter-
nationally is as following: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Palestine,
Montenegro, Malaysia, Thailand, Lebanon, The Democratic
Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Albania, Kenya, Kosovo, Senegal,
Mali, Ivory Coast, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nigeria, Yemen,
Tanzania, Serbia and China-Xingjian Uyghur Autonomous
Region. Recent increase in substance use in countries where
the Green Crescent has started establishment works at-
tracts attention.
Drug addiction, which is found to increase due to the Israel’s
occupation, has become a serious social problem in Gaza and
West Bank in recent years. Palestinian people consider the
source of this problem as occupation. They believe that oc-
cupation forces bring drugs to Palestinian lands purposefully.
Another country in Middle East where addiction problems
are common is Yemen. 75% of men and %45 of women in
Yemen abuse drugs and substances. Increasing when come
close to Gulf countries, this drug trafficking destabilizes the
country in economic and political terms.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, another country whereThe Green
Crescent completes its establishment, traumatic aspects
unique to post-war societies and high amounts of related al-
cohol consumption and drug use attracts attention. Lebanon,
where the Green Crescent is established, comes first in
Islamic countries about alcohol consumption. And also, there
is a serious water-pipe outbreak in the country.
The Turkish Green Crescent
has moved to a higher level and
taken a step for being a global
NGO. Having organized in 21
different countries up-to-now,
The Green Crescent declares
that they will establishWorld
Green Crescents Federation this
year in Istanbul.
WORLD GREEN
CRESCENTS FEDERATION
IS BEING ESTABLISHED
NEWS