Palestinian Red Crescent praises Turkey’s support

By Seyit Ahmet Aytac

ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s head praised Turkey for its support to the people of Gaza.

Khalid Joudeh, Director-General of Palestinian Red Crescent, spoke to Anadolu Agency during the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) General Assembly meetings in Antalya.

''We have direct cooperation with Turkish Red Crescent and there are some other support coming from Turkish Government. The support has given some relief to the Gazans and Palestinians. We thank all Turkish people and their government from the bottom of our hearths,'' Joudeh said.

He also appreciated Turkish Red Crescent and said there is a “very close and historical relationship” between the Palestinian and the Turkish Red Crescents. “We have strategic partnership with them,” he added.

“Palestinian Red Crescent Society was founded in 1968. We cover mostly health sector. We work together with Palestinian Government,” Joudeh pointed out.

Since 2007, Gaza’s roughly 2 million residents have suffered under a crippling Israeli blockade that has deprived them of many basic commodities, including food, fuel, medicines and building materials.

The Turkish Red Crescent Society, in cooperation with its Palestinian counterpart, has delivered food packages and clothing to thousands of residents in Gaza. In April, the society revealed it would build a disaster and humanitarian aid logistics center in Gaza.

In August, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA)'s official said that the construction of a big training and research hospital in Gaza will be completed and opened this year.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) General Assembly 7-day long global statutory meetings began on Nov. 5 and will conclude on Saturday Nov.11.