The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) distributed humanitarian aid to the Somali people in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday.
Turkish Red Crescent officials in Somalia, who spoke to the Anadolu Agency (AA), said the group distributed more than 500 food parcels to people in need, including those internally displaced in the capital.
“The Turkish Red Crescent has provided humanitarian aid to Somalia since 2011 and distributed 500 food packages to families in need in the Kahda region,” said Orhan Kokcu, head of a Turkish Red Crescent delegation.
The Turkish Red Crescent will continue to spread food in Somalia during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and plans to issue 7,000 packages.
More than 116,000 Somalis have been displaced due to extreme water shortages since October 2020, according to a joint statement from the UN and the Somali government earlier this month.
Most parts of the country are facing critical water shortages, with more than 50 districts reporting moderate to severe drought conditions, according to the country and the UN Office.
Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kınık said on Friday that they are aiming to reach about one million people in 18 countries during the month of Ramadan.
Explaining that support is mainly given to countries fighting war, disaster and poverty, Kınık said: “We are in countries such as Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq and Syria. On the other hand, our operations continue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and others. Balkan countries too. “
Kınık added that the organization also provides people with hygiene products and personal protective equipment along with a steady supply of food.
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