The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) continues its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, providing food, clean water, health and psychosocial support as the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave persists.
Kızılay President Fatma Meriç Yılmaz said access to food and clean water remains difficult in Gaza, while hygiene conditions are poor.
Yılmaz made the remarks at the Rafah Border Crossing in Egypt, where she traveled with Türkiye’s ambassador to Cairo and an accompanying delegation to monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and assess needs in the region.
“Following the cease-fire, it was promised that 600 trucks of humanitarian aid would enter Gaza daily, but only around 100 trucks are able to enter,” Yılmaz said.
She added that 160 trucks carrying humanitarian aid supplies sent to the region aboard Kızılay’s Goodness Ships are still waiting to enter Gaza.
Before visiting the Rafah crossing, Yılmaz visited Egypt’s Port of Al-Arish and Kızılay warehouses to monitor the movement of humanitarian aid supplies destined for Gaza.
Yılmaz said ensuring access to humanitarian aid is an obligation under international humanitarian law and that Kızılay continues its work to meet urgent needs in Gaza.
Through its delegation and teams in Gaza, Kızılay continues to provide aid by procuring supplies locally, she said.
“Our soup kitchen provides meals for 30,000 people every day, while our teams distribute 100 tons of clean water,” Yılmaz said.
She added that Kızılay also provides psychosocial support and runs a prosthetics project for people who have lost limbs.
“Türkiye is the country providing the most aid to Gaza worldwide, but the assistance remains below the level of need. Therefore, let us not forget Gaza and let us not allow Gaza to be forgotten,” Yılmaz said.
During her contacts in Egypt, Yılmaz also visited Gazan patients receiving treatment at the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital and El Nas Hospital in Cairo.
She announced that a new patient support program with a budget of approximately TL 3.2 million ($67,000) would be launched for patients receiving treatment at the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital.
