'Wars leave permanent traces on human spirit,' says Turkish first lady

Wars and natural disasters cause traumatic consequences which leave lasting marks on the human spirit, Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"The consequences of war on mental health and its social dimension are often neglected. Especially facts like wars and natural disasters that develop beyond the control of the individuals have traumatic consequences on people, leaving permanent traces on the human spirit,” Emine Erdogan said in a video message sent to the third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen held in Kyiv.

The first lady said Ukrainians continue to experience the devastating consequences of the war, with the invasion of Crimea in 2014 and the Russian war on Ukraine which started last February.

“More than 8 million Ukrainians had to leave their homeland and seek refuge in different countries to escape death and destruction. Although over 5 million Ukrainians have returned to their country, families have been torn apart and great tragedies have ensued.”

Wars not only destroy humanity but also its common heritage like cities and civilizations, she said. “Stopping the war in Ukraine, as in all conflict zones, should be our common responsibility.”

She also said that women and children are the groups most affected by conflict.

Türkiye has been making efforts since the start of the Ukraine war to reduce the destruction and end the war with a “just peace” as soon as possible, she added.

Nearly 1,200 children, including children with special needs, were brought to Türkiye after the war began with the initiatives of the Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, she noted.

Stressing that in every meeting with Zelenska, they discussed cooperation projects, especially for vulnerable groups to heal the wounds of Ukraine, she said their first goal will be to ensure family reunification.

“As always, the reconstruction of Ukraine in all areas will be one of our priority issues in the upcoming period,” she added.

The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen is an international association of spouses of the world's top leaders, founded by Zelenska in 2021 to share experiences and implement joint projects for the well-being of people around the world.

During the summit, participants discussed how mental health is an inseparable part of human well-being.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar