The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) published its annual “Turkmenistan 2024 IFRC network country plan”. Nothing has changed the way IFRC plan and report on their work. Meanwhile, the issues of corruption allegations still have not been addressed while the audit they have conducted is still not publicly available. We have previously described the work and the shortcomings of the Red Cross Society in Turkmenistan.
The plan summarizes the objective of the Red Cross Society in Turkmenistan on a very high level, using vague and descriptive language. Achievements are provided as generic statements rather than measurable results supported by data and specific examples. It also lacks specific and measurable goals, target groups they aim to work with, exact projects they plan to implement and how they will measure the impact of their work.
In 2024 the National Society has the following strategic priorities and people to reach in Turkmenistan:
- Climate and environment – 36,000;
- Disasters and crises – 46,000;
- Health and wellbeing – 57,000;
- Migration and displacement – 300;
- Values, power and inclusion – 20,000.
There is a lack of information on how the National Red Cross Society in Turkmenistan will reach these target audiences. For example, under the climate and environment area the Society plans to conduct community-level information sessions and enhance the capacity of communities to address the impacts of climate change. However, they do not specify which exact communities, in which locations or how exactly they plan to reach and engage these specific audiences.
Moreover, under each strategic area the National Society sets ambitious but yet vague objectives, which are hard to measure and monitor. At the same time, they have not done much in these areas to make an actual impact and address the real problems people in Turkmenistan face.
Below are some highlights:
- Climate and environment – as the report highlights Turkmenistan is impacted by rising temperatures, water scarcity, loss in biodiversity and dust storms. People are struggling with scorching heat and dust storms which have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. However, the Red Cross Society in Turkmenistan is not actively engaging in these issues or with people impacted by these environmental and climatic challenges.
- Disasters and crises – the IFRC helps the National Society to predict and prepare for extreme weather events through forecast based financing. However, the National Society has been silent and inactive when a severe storm hit Lebap and Mary regions in 2020. The National Society did not involve its rapid response teams or provide in kind and financial support to the victims of the disaster. No one knows the extent of human and economic losses people incurred.
- Health and wellbeing – the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan claims to have actively engaged in the immunization and education of the population on the importance of vaccination during the COVID-19. However, the National Society did not acknowledge the existence of COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan. They did not release any statistics on the number of people impacted by the pandemic or how exactly they supported affected individuals and households during the major epidemic that took lives of Turkmen citizens.
- Migration and displacement – changing climate in Turkmenistan is causing outward migration. People are escaping arid climate, droughts, rising temperatures and dust storms which threaten their livelihoods and health. In 2024 the National Society plans to engage in humanitarian diplomacy to advocate for the rights of migrants, to improve their access to basic healthcare and shelter, and to support returnees. However, there is no publicly available information on how exactly the National Society supported Turkmen migrants in Turkey, for example, some of whom live and work in precarious conditions as well as migrant workers who have returned to Turkmenistan. Labour migrants and returnees rely on their personal contacts to resolve their challenges.
- Values, power and inclusion – the report mentions the ‘increasing spread of gender-based violence and the necessity of creating shelters and basic services for its victims’. However, under planned activities for 2024 there is no single activity addressing these needs. Out of nine activities only one mentions gender in the context of ‘considering gender roles, risks, vulnerabilities during emergency preparedness and response’.
While the yearly plan highlights the most pressing challenges that the National Society needs to address in Turkmenistan, it lacks specificity, data and clear examples to showcase their progress. Turkmen citizens have no reasons to trust, rely or support the work of the IFRC or the National Society because they let down during the most challenging times such as the devastating hurricane in 2020 and Covid-19 pandemic.
