Erdoğan marks Turkish Red Crescent's 151st anniversary

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday congratulated the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) on the 151st anniversary of its founding.

In a message to the organization's head Kerem Kınık, Erdoğan said the Turkish Red Crescent was "one of the world's most respectable institutions in its field."

Highlighting its importance, Erdoğan said the Red Crescent was a symbol of Turkish solidarity, social cooperation, mercy and compassion and a source of hope for all victims and innocent people.

Kızılay is the largest humanitarian aid organization in Turkey, with an international network over which it provides relief to other nations in need.

It provides unconditional aid and non-profit, volunteer-based social services, and is a corporate body governed by special legal provisions.

Disaster management, blood donation, healthcare, first aid, international aid and immigration and refugee services are among the agency's activities.