Calling the extending of aid to Pakistan the responsibility of the Turkish people, President Abdullah Gül asked the nation Friday to help the disaster-hit country.
“I am calling on all our people to actively participate in these ongoing aid campaigns. I am sure that the Turkish people will do it. Not only because we are friends and brothers with Pakistan, but also for humanitarian reasons,” Gül told reporters Friday in Istanbul.
Noting that the Pakistani people helped Turks during the War of Independence in the 1920s and the devastating Marmara earthquake in 1999, Gül said it was now Turkey’s turn to help flood-ravaged Pakistan.
The Turkish president welcomed the aid campaigns launched by the media, civilian organizations and trade chambers, and said the Turkish Armed Forces, the office of the Prime Minister and other state institutions would join the Red Crescent in sending humanitarian aid to Pakistan.
In a symbolic move, Gül donated money to a charity that was collecting donations from people outside of a mosque in Istanbul.
With efforts underway at Turkish state institutions and nongovernmental organizations to help the people of Pakistan, bank accounts for donations have been opened within the scope of the aid campaigns. The Turkish Red Crescent will collect in-kind and monetary contributions and send them to the region to meet the needs of flood victims.
Daily Hürriyet has donated 100,000 Turkish Liras to the effort through the campaign it launched for Pakistan. Vuslat Doğan Sabancı, publisher of daily Hürriyet, donated 25,000 liras while Ferit Şahenk, the CEO of Doğuş Holding, gave 100,000 liras.
The Red Crescent will send an additional 105 tons of aid material to the region in line with the needs there, including prefabricated houses to provide temporary shelter that will be sent by train. The organization has already sent 140 tons of aid material, including foodstuffs and cleaning equipment, potable water, blankets, medicine and tents.
Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek meanwhile said Friday that his municipality would join the effort to send aid to Pakistan. According to a statement by the municipality, it plans to send 75 tons of food and cleaning supplies, along with four mobile bread bakeries.
