Date posted: August 1, 2014

SERVET YANATMA / ANKARA

Turkey is cooperating with Israel to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and has sent an official from the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) to the country.

Diplomatic sources confirmed that an official from the Turkish Red Crescent went to Israel to coordinate humanitarian aid to be sent to Gaza. “There is no other way to provide aid to Gaza,” said the sources on Thursday. Dismissing claims that the Turkish official will be negotiating a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza, sources said Turkey is only in contact with the officials from Hamas and the US regarding the Palestinian territory.

Since the start of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, top Turkish officials have adopted a strong stance against Israel, using harsh political language against the country because of its attacks targeting Palestinians. However, leaders and lawmakers from opposition parties have heavily criticized the Turkish government, saying that its reaction against Israeli attacks on Gaza is merely rhetoric.

Turkey declared a three-day period of mourning last week for Palestinian victims killed in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) launched an aid campaign recently for the people of the Gaza Strip and called for more humanitarian aid to the region.

Since the start of the campaign, members of the foundation have distributed food, blankets, household goods and other items to victims in Gaza, recently increasing the amount of humanitarian aid to those affected by the Israeli military’s air and ground attacks.

In an effort to heal the pain the people of Gaza are suffering, Kimse Yok Mu hosted an iftar for 13,000 people, delivered food to 2,000 families, delivered household goods to 200 families and sent blankets to 350 families. The foundation also drilled a well there, as thousands of people are struggling with hunger and thirst, in addition to delivering milk to 1,000 children so far.

Kimse Yok Mu doctors also extended a helping hand to the Gazans who were injured during attacks by the Israeli army by performing free surgeries and providing medical relief. The charity also launched a donation campaign to enable the purchase of medical supplies.

Kimse Yok Mu is also repairing houses that were damaged during the Israeli attacks on Gaza residents. The foundation has not forgotten about the children, delivering 1,750 liters of milk along with 1,215 packages of diapers to families with children.

Source: Today's Zaman , July 31, 2014

Tags: Humanitarian aid | Palestine | Turkey |