Kızılay delivers more than 25,000 tons of aid to Gaza in 3 years
A Kızılay team member cooks food for people affected by the war, Gaza, Palestine, Oct. 29, 2026. (Courtesy of Kızılay)


The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) is continuing its humanitarian aid operations in Gaza for a third year, providing food, clean water, health care and psychosocial support as the humanitarian crisis persists.

The organization said it has delivered more than 25,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza through 21 Goodness Ships sent from the Port of Mersin to Egypt’s El Arish Port under the coordination of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Following last year's cease-fire, Kızılay has accelerated its operations and reorganized its activities around emergency response and recovery efforts.

"Even in the third year of the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, we stand with our Gazan brothers and sisters in every area, from food and clean water to health and prosthetic support and psychosocial programs for children,” Kızılay President Fatma Meriç Yılmaz announced.

The organization has distributed approximately 18 million hot meals in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict. Its soup kitchen currently has the capacity to provide 30,000 hot meals daily.

Access to clean water continues to pose a major challenge in Gaza, with poor hygiene conditions contributing to the spread of infectious diseases.

Kızılay distributes 150 tons of clean water every day, reaching at least 15,000 people. It has also delivered more than 200,000 hygiene kits to people in need.

Health and rehabilitation support

The organization is also providing medical assistance to health facilities in Gaza.

Under its Gaza Health Support Project, medical supplies worth TL 10.5 million ($213,400) were delivered to Al-Amal and Al-Mawasi hospitals operated by the Palestine Red Crescent. A separate TL 3.2 million patient support program was launched to help Palestinians who cannot afford treatment.

Kızılay also resumed operations through its Gaza delegation in February 2026 to improve the identification of needs and coordinate recovery efforts on the ground.

A Prosthetics and Orthotics Support Project was subsequently launched for people who lost limbs in the attacks. Six people have so far received prosthetic support under the project, which began in August.

The organization is also conducting psychosocial support activities for children through its Gaza Happy Children Project, where Kızılay teams organize games and performances while distributing refreshments.

Kızılay also conducts Gaza-focused donation campaigns during Ramadan and Eid, delivering food, clothing, iftar meals and canned sacrificial meat to Palestinians.

Yılmaz said the organization would continue its operations until conditions in Gaza return to normal.

"We are not only meeting Gaza’s immediate needs today but also implementing projects that offer lasting solutions to fully heal the wounds,” Yılmaz said. "Our humanitarian aid operations will continue to expand until living conditions in Gaza return to normal, all wounds are healed, and our brothers and sisters can safely rebuild their lives.”