The report, conducted by the 2013 Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA), revealed that Turkey donated over $1 billion (£651.6 million/ €756.9 million) in international assistance in 2012.

This almost quadrupled its contribution from the previous year despite a global trend that saw the world's total international humanitarian response fall by eight per cent.

The United States remained the largest donor of humanitarian assistance by volume, providing $3.8 billion (£2.5 billion/€2.9 billion) in 2012.

The European Union institutions ranked as the second largest donor with $1.9 billion (£1.2 million/€1.4 million) and they were followed by the United Kingdom, which contributed $1.2 billion (£783 million/€907million).

However, as the total sum donated by Turkey represented 0.13 per cent of the country's gross national income, the report named Turkey as the G20's "most generous" member.

Istanbul's 2020 bid has been boosted by the GHA report's findings, it is claimed by officials




This was welcome news to Hasan Arat (pictured top), Istanbul 2020 bid chairman, who underlined the consequences of the GHA findings.

"Turkey's capacity to donate such significant humanitarian funding shows the robust health of our economy - especially as this report comes just a few weeks after Turkey became a net creditor to the IMF (International Monetary Fund)," he said.

"More importantly, it shows Turkey's values.

"We are ready and able to share our good fortune with those around the world who need it most, and we have great experience in translating funding into life-changing results.

"This GHA report gives us great confidence that Istanbul 2020 can achieve our legacy goals.

"Sport will be our vehicle for spreading the Olympic Values throughout the region and connecting this huge, youthful population with the full power of the Olympic Movement for the first time.

"Istanbul 2020 will be a bridge to an historic impact for the region and the entire Olympic Movement."

Full details of the report are available here

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