Turkey's largest aid ship sails for flood-hit Pakistan

Turkish relief group on 31 December 2010 sent ever-largest humanitarian aid ship to flood-hit Pakistan in a national campaign organized by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH).

The aid ship "Defne" sailed to Pakistan, which has 4,800 tons of aid materials for the flood victims of Pakistan from Zeyport sea port in Turkey.

It is the largest aid operation at a time, as the ship carries 4 thousand 800 tons of aid to Pakistan. The ship was a part of Gaza Freedom Flotilla that tried to bring aid to besieged Gaza and was attacked by Israeli soldiers in a raid that cost lives of 9 Turkish activists.

Pakistan has yet to recover from the destruction caused by regional monsoon rains that paralyzed the country in July. Thirty million Pakistanis who were affected in the worst floods in Pakistan’s history are still struggling to recover four months on.

Defne ship carries the cargo of dry pulses, winter clothes, tents, blankets, medications, medical equipment and cleaning materials. Total financial value of the aid is 8 million Turkish Liras, IHH officials said. The ship will arrive to Pakistan after 20-day journey and the aid will be distributed to Pakistani flood victims.

"It is the biggest aid campaign by the people of Turkey in modern Turkish history", IHH President Bulent Yildirim said.

"One of the ships of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Defne is the largest human assistance so far. People from all over Turkey mobilized for the filling of the vessel. Our work for the Pakistani flood victims continue. Prepared in Turkey, this assistance will reach Pakistan about 20 days later," he added.

Source: World Bulletin