12 November 2009 / ELIF AKDENIZ , İSTANBUL
With Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) approaching, Turkish charity organizations have stepped up preparations to lend a helping hand to Africans living in severe poverty by donating sacrificed animals.
Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) and the Cansuyu Solidarity and Charity Foundation launched several programs to collect money from the Turkish public to buy sacrificial animals to feed the poor in various African countries. Thousands of volunteers will spend their Eid al-Adha in Africa to help slaughter the animals and distribute the meat.İHH President Bülent Yıldırım said that since his organization first began its Eid al-Adha program, it has seen more than 2,000 volunteers help it distribute aid in remote parts of the world. He added that many people are surprised when the volunteers come to them and tell them İHH is giving away meat. “People asked us why we went there and wanted to understand our motivation. These donations are helping Turkey build a chain of mercy,” Yıldırım noted.
