TURKEY WILL BE IN THE FRONT LINE OF THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS TO PAKISTAN

A higher level meeting was held in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly about the issues of humanitarian assistance to Pakistan due to flood disaster. At the meeting in New York, Turkey was represented by Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis.

At the beginning of his speech, Minister Bagis read Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's message that was sent to UN General Assembly.

In the message, expressing that Pakistan had experienced the most destructive natural disaster in her history, Prime Minister Erdogan extended his deepest sorrow for the flood disaster which has shattered the lives of millions of Pakistanis, on behalf of his nation and his government.

Bagis stated in his speech that Turkey would be in the front line of the humanitarian efforts by international society to Pakistan which experienced flood disaster.

Pointing out that Turkey was ready to provide help to Pakistan after the flood disaster, Bagis uttered that this point was clearly underlined by both President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Bagis continued as follows:

"I am proud to state that the Turkish Red Crescent, volunteer groups and relief associations were among the first international groups that reached Pakistan, and they have already distributed supplies in coordination with the local authorities. We are in the process of constructing two field hospitals together with healthcare personnel. These hospitals will be operational on Saturday. My government has initiated an additional nation-wide people-to-people donation campaign which will reflect the Turkish nations' warm feelings towards Pakistan during this holy month of Ramadan. Turkish business world is also leading another campaign, and our Chambers have taken the lead with 1 million dollar donation. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency of Religious Affairs will also initiate similar campaigns in the near future."

Source: AA