Turkish aid agency helps vulnerable families

Hassan Isilow

Mayfair – Turkey’s state-run aid agency recently distributed food hampers to hundreds of families to help residents who are not working because of the coronavirus lockdown.

  The coordinator of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Mehmet Akif Sekerci said: “In this challenging times when the entire globe is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, while mindful of the lockdown regulations we thought we should go from house to house to distribute the aid to vulnerable people in the spirit of Ramadan.’’

  Sekerci said TIKA partnered with local NGOs in Johannesburg who know vulnerable families in the communities.

  “The food distribution would help Muslims who are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, as well as needy non-Muslim families residing in Mayfair,” Sekerci said.

  Items distributed included maize, flour, sugar, cooking oil and peanut butter.

  A Mayfair resident who identified himself as Mohammed said: “This Ramadan would have been difficult for us if we had not received this aid, because we have not been working since the lockdown.”

  Councilor Alex Christians thanked the Turkish government for the aid.

  Last month TIKA provided a hospital in Pretoria with more than 10 000 N95 face masks to help health workers curb the spread of the virus. The agency has been operating in South Africa for more than two years, and has been involved in several projects that include refurbishing hospitals, mosques and cultural centres. Anadolu Agency