In line with its friendly attitude towards African countries, Turkey stands with one of the youngest countries on the continent. In southern Sudan, projects are underway from Turkish aid and development agencies.
In the last decade, since South Sudan gained independence, state development, aid and education agencies have helped the country implement a number of projects to lift the people. The African country of South Sudan with a population of 12 million was ousted from Sudan on June 9, 2011.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Deputy Foreign Minister and International Cooperation Deng Dau said that the Turkish mission has supported people in many ways and his government will not forget this support.
“Turkey is one of our close friends, their embassy here in southern Sudan has supported our people in so many ways and the government and the people of southern Sudan will not forget their support and will continue to work with them,” he said. The Turkish government has provided scholarships and supported people with food and non-food through its state aid and development agency, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).
Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan Erdem Mutaf said that Turkey and South Sudan enjoy exemplary bilateral relations reflected in every aspect of their interaction in line with the great sympathy between the two nations stemming from the historical and cultural background.
TIKA program coordinator Cafer T. Besli said that his agency has been actively involved in many projects that include education, health, capacity building and vocational training. It has also distributed food and non-food products to vulnerable communities.
Akniyet Turganali, representative of the Turkish Red Crescent Society (Kızılay), said the organization has been committed to providing water supply by helping to set up hand pumps and also raising awareness of sanitation by distributing hygiene-related items to people. The Turkish Red Crescent Society also provides assistance to 6,000 internally displaced persons. Turganali said his organization has so far provided tents to flood-affected families, distributed basic items such as shoes and clothes and groceries to children and has also supported orphanages.
.
