Turkish Red Crescent lending helping hand for 150 years

Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) has been extending a "hand of kindness" to people for 150 years, Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay said Sunday.

Speaking at an event in capital Ankara, Oktay said that the relief agency is a "deep-rooted" organization which reflects hospitality, helpfulness and generosity of the Turkish nation.

"Turkish Kızılay is one of the best disaster relief organizations in the world with its nationwide disaster response and disaster logistics systems," Oktay said.

He added that Kızılay had intervened in disasters in 138 different countries in the past 10 years and had met the basic needs -- such as shelter and nutrition -- of people.

"We have never been indifferent in the face of humanitarian crises anywhere in the world," Oktay said.

Kerem Kınık, head of Kızılay, said that the relief agency currently carries out humanitarian assistance in 16 countries.

He recalled that Kızılay gave a helping hand to people in need in 51 countries in 2018, adding that the agency targets to reach stronger governance and further increase corporate trust.

"We must be more agile, more innovative and more accountable," he said.

Turkey is among the world's top aid donors.

Kızılay is the largest humanitarian organization in Turkey, with an international network to help other nations in need.