KARACHI: Turkiye’s state-run disaster and management agency AFAD on Sunday established a tent city for flood victims of Sindh near Nooriabad.

Named after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the tent city has been set up in collaboration with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Baitussalam Trust in Bholari, where more than 200 tents have been erected for the flood-affected people.

Speaking on the occasion, Turkish Consul General stationed at Karachi Cemal Sangu said Turkiye was deeply grieved over the loss of life and property in Pakistan, and “in this troubled time, we stand by Pakistan”.

He said that so far, 14 cargo planes with 212 tonnes of relief goods, and 13 trains of aid items had reached Pakistan, adding that more goods would come by Monday in a plane and trains.

PAF’s Air Vice Marshall Zaeem Afzal thanked the Turkish government for providing humanitarian assistance to Pakistan. He said that 130 families had been settled in the tent city, adding that the number would be raised to 500.

According to AFAD, humanitarian aid items consisting 50,000 tents, 500,000 food packages and cleaning/hygiene materials, are planned to be dispatched to the region under the coordination of the AFAD Presidency.

In order to the dispatch humanitarian aid items to the region, “Goodness Train expeditions” were established in cooperation with the ministry of transport and infrastructure, and an “air bridge” was also established in cooperation with the ministry of national defence.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2022