Campaigns in Turkey for drought-hit Somalia

ADANA (A.A) - August 8, 2011 - Campaigns have been launched in various provinces in Turkey aiming to send aid to people of famine-stricken Somalia.
Zihni Aldirmaz, the acting Mayor of southern province of Adana, said Monday drought in Africa turned into a disaster for the people of the region, and noted that a commission would be established to coordinate the assistance.
Meanwhile, office of the Governor of central Anatolian province of Karaman launched a two-month campaign aiming to send assistance to countries which suffered from hunger and drought.
Suleyman Kahraman, Governor of Karaman, called on the people to be more sensitive on the matter.
Karaman said accounts were opened in many bank branches for the campaign and noted that foodstuff was needed.
Chairmanship of the Parliament also launched a campaign to help people who were struggling against hunger in Africa.
Parliament Speaker Cemil cicek called on political parties, represented at the parliament, to assist people of Africa.
Cicek sent an article to the group chairmanship of the parties and said people of the region, mainly Somalia, was face to face with a tragedy because of drought and hunger.
Cicek said this tragedy also cause epidemics and deaths, "people of the region are struggling to survive," he added.
Somalia is currently faced with one of the worst droughts in the past 60 years.
The epicenter of the drought lies on the three-way border shared by Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, a nomadic region where families heavily depend on the health of their livestock. Uganda and Djibouti have also been hit by the disaster.
Tens of thousands of people have so far been displaced due to the humanitarian situation in the region.