Campaigns continue in Turkey to assist hunger-hit Africa

ANKARA (A.A) - 09.08.2011 - The head official of Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) said on Tuesday that more than 6 million lira was collected in campaigns launched to assist hunger and drought-hit Somalia.
In an exclusive interview with the A.A correspondent, head of Turkish Red Crescent Tekin Kucukali said people were suffering in Somalia as it had not rained for five years.
"Furthermore there is a turmoil in the region. If five million population of the 11 million people are at death threshold, and if more than half of them are children, the world should review its own conscience," Kucukali said.
Kucukali said 29,000 children died in 90 days, noting it disturbed conscience of all people.
"Campaigns have started to assist Somalia. Red Crescent will assist Somalia for two more years. Red Crescent's Director General Omer Tasli and his team are currently in Somalia. He told me that people of the region shouted, 'Turks are coming, we will be rescued' when they saw the Turkish planes. Now, Turkey is in a position to bring the highest amount of assistance there. I hope Turkey's assistance will be example to other countries," Kucukali said.
"Most of the foodstuffs will be stored in big depots in Somalia. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had a meeting there. All the assistance that will be obtained from 14 Arab countries will be collected in our storage. We will also be responsible for the administration of the camps and distribution of the assistance," he said.
Separately, office of the governor of Ankara launched a campaign to collect aid to Africa.
Releasing a statement, the office said there was a tragedy in the region because of the drought and hunger in eastern part of the African continent.
The statement said Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) would be responsible for the national coordination of the campaign.
Meanwhile, various campaigns have been launched in central Anatolian province of Yozgat with the directives of Governor's Office.
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.