Hayat Aid Convoy for Syria, which was initiated by Egyptian Doctors Union in order to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and take emergency aid to the region, visited crisis-hit Syrian people in Syria last Friday by passing through Kilis and took 20 truckloads of humanitarian aid to the region.
Officials from Hayat Aid Convoy, which was launched by 12 relief organizations including IHH, met with press members in İstanbul on April 29.
Related news: Hayat Aid Convoy went Syria passing through Kilis
At the news conference, officials from the convoy gave information to the press members about the goals of the aid convoy. Speaking at the meeting, IHH’s vice president Hüseyin Oruç said “Hayat Aid Convoy brought together young activists from the west and east”, adding that “the humanitarian crisis in Syria, which has entered its 3rd year, will come to the world’s agenda more with the aid convoy”.
Palestinian singer and activist Rim Banna, who is one of the members of the convoy and went the Syria to take relief items three days ago, said the migration of displaced people in Syria made him remember the migration which began in Palestine in 1948. Banna said Syrian people have always been at the side of Palestinians. With regards to the reason for his joining in the convoy, he said: “As a Palestinian, I wanted to tell Syrians that Palestinians are at their side.”
Sharing his impressions from Syria, Egyptian Dr. Mostafa Alnagar said the refugee camps for Syrians in Turkey are very tidy and they are coordinated in a good way. Alnagar offered his thanks to the Turkish government for this. Noting that they will continue to take aid to Syria until the country is free, Alnagar asked civil society organizations operating in Syria to deliver their aid items fairly among people. Alnagar also asked his country and other Arabic countries to increase the amount of aid they make for Syria and to take more responsibility in order to stop bloodshed in the country.
In addition to IHH, there are Syria Humanitarian Solidarity and Development Foundation, UK-based Human Appeal, Islamic Relief and Human Care Foundation Worldwide, Canada-based Human Concern, Lebanon-based Ghawth for Emergency Relief, Egyptian Pharmacists’ Union, Syria-based Arab Medical Union, Human Care Syria, Watan Syria and Syrian Women Association. The convoy will make its second voyage to Syria in June.