Turkish relief agency to send aid to Egypt

Turk Kizilayi (Turkish Red Crescent) will provide aid for the Egyptian people, according to an agreement between the agency and its Egyptian counterpart. Turkish and Egyptian Red Crescent organizations agreed on Thursday on a relief mission to meet humanitarian needs that arose during events in the aftermath of a military coup last month, a statement from the Turkish organization said. Officials from the two agencies met in Turkish Embassy in Cairo and discussed the deal. Kamil Kolabas of Turkish Red Crescent said Turkey could not ignore the situation in Egypt due to its obligations under the Geneva Conventions in 1949, which establish protections for victims of war. "We will always stand by the oppressed," Kolabas said. "We will carry out the relief missions in cooperation with our sister organization, Egyptian Red Crescent." Mamdouh Gabr, Secretary General of Egyptian Red Crescent, said they attached great importance to Turkey’s aid at a time when Egypt experienced momentous events. Gabr said that his organization was launched under the Ottoman Empire, and that the shared history and values between Egypt and Turkey would make a significant contribution to the joint humanitarian mission.