Turkish charity organizations campaign for Pakistan

Not just the Turkish Red Crescent, but also private humanitarian aid organizations are campaigning to collect aid for Pakistan, where one-fifth of the country has been hit by floods, affecting nearly one in 10 Pakistanis -- up to 20 million people.

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu urged the whole world, but especially Turkey, to help Pakistan . İhsanoğlu said the OIC has launched an initiative to ensure the coordination of the humanitarian assistance of its member countries and their humanitarian aid organizations.

He recalled that 11 years ago, when western Turkey was devastated by a large earthquake, the Pakistani people did their best to help, emphasizing that now it is the Turkish people’s turn.

“No matter how much we help, it is not enough. The Pakistani people need help more than ever,” he stressed.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry humanitarian aid from the Turkish government to Pakistan will total 140 tons, at a value of $1 million.

In its first shipment of humanitarian aid, the government sent medicine, medical equipment, tents, kitchen gear and blankets.

The Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) has also launched a major campaign. On their website the organization indicates that they are already in the area and working to find out what the Pakistani people need.

“İHH teams on the ground distributed hot meals to 25,000 victims in the areas of Mustafabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Haripur,” they said.