Turkish aid distributed to poor families in Gaza

Humanitarian aid sent by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) are being distributed in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 July 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Humanitarian aid is being distributed in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 July 2017 [Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency]

Humanitarian aid sent by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) are being distributed in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 July 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development on Sunday distributed Turkish aid packages to 29,000 Palestinian families in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

The aid was distributed in cooperation with the state-run Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency (TIKA).

Turkish aid ship, Aqua Stella, docked at Israel’s Ashdod port late last month carrying tons of aid supplies to poor families in the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Raed Qeshta, TIKA’s assistant coordinator in Gaza, said the aid has been handed out to families from across the Gaza Strip, adding that:

Around 100,000 bags of flour will be handed out to poor families in the coming period

The aid includes 50,000 food packages, 5,000 tons of flour, 100 tons of biscuits, chocolates and cakes. It also includes 50,000 items of clothes, 18,100 toys, 32,000 sets of stationery and over 1,000 bicycles as presents for Palestinian children in the coastal enclave.

In 2016, Turkey sent two aid ships to Gaza carrying more than 22,000 tons of aid supplies after Ankara normalized ties with Israel following a six-year hiatus.

Humanitarian aid sent by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) are being distributed in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 July, 2017 [Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency]

Humanitarian aid sent by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) are being distributed in Gaza City, Gaza on July 16, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Humanitarian aid sent by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) are being distributed in Gaza City, Gaza on July 16, 2017 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]