Turkish, Saudi Arabian foundations sign deal for Syria

By Zuhal Kocalar

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) - Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman Foundation signed a grant agreement worth $3 million for helping Syria.

Yavuz Dede, secretary general for IHH, and Abdullah Ruveyli, an official from King Salman Foundation, signed the deal in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep.

"We plan to make Syrian people stand on their own feet," Ruveyli said.

He also thanked Turkey for its support and help to the Syrians, adding: "We want to increase our cooperation."

Within the framework of the agreement, a bakery will be established in Azaz district of Syria's Aleppo province, where 50,800 loaves of bread a day are expected to be distributed to people for nine months.

Some 30,400 loaves of bread a day will be distributed to people in Syria's Ghouta for five months.

One-hundred-and-fifty-five poor families will be given a cow each and three months of fodder.

Also, three sheep and three months of fodder will be given to 164 families.

Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since March 2011 when the al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.