Istanbul Bar Association Holds Natural Disasters and Humanitarian Logistics Conference

Istanbul Bar Association Holds Natural Disasters and Humanitarian Logistics Conference

The “Natural Disasters and Humanitarian Aid Logistics” Seminar, organized jointly by the Istanbul Bar Association Disaster Law and Coordination Center and the Istanbul Bar Association Transport Law and Logistics Commission, took place on June 6, 2023, from 13:30 to 17:00 at the Istanbul Bar Association Conference Hall. The seminar was also live-streamed on the Istanbul Bar Association’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/istanbulBarosuTv.

The seminar consisted of two sessions, with the opening remarks delivered by Av. Fulya Karataş Saylam, Executive Board Member of the Istanbul Bar Association Transport Law and Logistics Commission, and the introductory speeches given by Av. Filiz Saraç, President of the Istanbul Bar Association, and Berna Akyıldız, President of CILT Turkey.

In her speech, Av. Filiz Saraç, President of the Istanbul Bar Association, emphasized the increasing need for humanitarian aid activities in response to frequent natural and man-made disasters, migration, and epidemics both globally and in Turkey. She highlighted the growing importance of effective humanitarian aid logistics and management in today’s world. With the occurrence of disasters, earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent developments, supply chains, logistics processes, risk management, and sustainability have gained significance. Timely and accurate assistance plays a crucial role in mitigating damages, and “disaster logistics” plays a key role in ensuring effective and efficient support for disaster victims.

Berna Akyıldız, President of CILT Turkey, expressed gratitude to the Istanbul Bar Association and the Transport Law and Logistics Commission, as well as all those involved in organizing the event. She stated, “As CILT, both locally and globally, we provide assistance after the major disaster Turkey experienced and organize webinars to address the topic from various perspectives. We are delighted to hold one of our webinars at one of our country’s most esteemed institutions. Thank you very much. We will continue to organize these webinars.”

Akyıldız emphasized that CILT is a new organization for Turkey but has a long-standing presence worldwide.

Following the speeches, the seminar proceeded to its first session, chaired by Cavit Uğur, Secretary of CILT Turkey. The session featured presentations by Fuat Pamukçu, CILT Turkey Board Member and Deputy General Manager of DFDS Mediterranean Division, on “Experience of Maritime Disaster Logistics in Light of Maraş Earthquakes,” Yasin Ata, Commercial Director of ULS Airlines Cargo Transportation, on “Air Cargo Logistics in Natural Disasters,” and Vittorio Zagaia, CEO and Vice Chairman of Galata Transportation and Trade Inc., a Corporate Member of CILT Turkey, on “Road Transportation, Warehousing, and Distribution Logistics in Disasters.”

A short break was taken at the end of the first session.

The second session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Nuray Ekşi from Marmara University Faculty of Law, featured presentations by Av. Egemen Gürsel Ankaralı, Spokesperson of the Istanbul Bar Association Transport Law and Logistics Commission, on “Legal Infrastructure of Health and Medical Material Logistics,” Av. Fulya Karataş Saylam, Executive Board Member of the Istanbul Bar Association Transport Law and Logistics Commission, on “Operational Logistics and Disaster Logistics Based on the 7D Framework,” and Av. Abide Gülel Birsen, Board Member of CILT Turkey, on “Legal Regulations on Disasters and Humanitarian Aid and the Role of Logistics.”