Red Cross signs partnership with Turkish relief organisation
Hassan Isilow
Johannesburg – The South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) Turkish Red Crescent on establishing strategic cooperation and partnership.
The agreement was signed by SARCS chairperson Mothibedi Panyane and president of the Turkish Red Crescent Kerem Kinik last Thursday.
Sedar Guner of the Turkish Red Crescent said the signing of the MoU paves the way for both parties to promote and establish a mutually beneficial partnership.
He said the Turkish Red Crescent and SARCS agreed to collaborate in organizational development, humanitarian aid and relief programmes.
Areas of cooperation will include advocacy and fundraising, youth and volunteer management, disaster risk reduction through joint training, technical assistance and staff exchange programmes.
Kinik was accompanied by his deputy Naci Yorulmaz and Yasir Yilmaz, a member of the organisation’s governing board.
The delegation was hosted by the Turkish Ambassador to South Africa Elif Comoglu Ulgen, who briefed them about the Turkey-South Africa relations. She also participated in some of the meetings between the two organizations.
The Turkish Red Crescent provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities in Africa, in partnership with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies. The organisation currently runs offices in Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan to assist people affected by conflict and natural disasters.
It sends relief items to alleviate human suffering in various countries experiencing humanitarian crisis in Africa. It also supports development initiatives to help communities to be better prepared for emergencies through resilience building.
The Turkish Red Crescent also reaches out to vulnerable populations in many African countries during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Muslim holidays of Eid.
The organization says it is planning to increase its humanitarian interventions in Africa by establishing more offices on the continent. Anadolu Agency