No clear-cut information on donations to Gazans
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Enis Tayman - Referans
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 22, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Gaza, where the banking system has collapsed, cannot receive aid without the state of Israel’s approval, yet charities in Turkey claim to have collected at least 30 million Turkish liras for aid. Questions are raised as to the groups’ intents and purposes for the public’s money.
The Turkish public has been very generous in assisting the plight of the people in Gaza. Questions arise, however, as most people do not ask for a receipt and many foundations and establishments collecting donations in the name of Gaza are not fully disclosing their account balances.
The total amount of collected aid remains unknown but is considered to be many times the declared 30 million Turkish Liras. There are fund drives all across the country. In cities, civil society organizations are organizing fairs to collect aid but there is no information about how this aid is being collected, their records or where the money is being sent.
Tekin Küçükali, chairperson for the Red Crescent in Turkey, says those who claim, "I went to Gaza to distribute aid" are not telling the truth. Küçükali said the Red Crescent is the only foundation with permission to enter Gaza. "International banking is out of order there. No one can deliver aid outside of Israel’s control."
Officials from The Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, one of the foundations that collect aid said they have delivered the first batch of aid to Gaza and handed out cash Dec. 28 and blankets and equipment Dec. 29. They claim to be the first team that left Istanbul.
Everybody collects aid
Currently, the Deniz Feneri Association, the Kimse Yok Mu Solidarity and Aid Association, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, the Yardımeli Foundation and the Cansuyu Foundation are some of the many civil society organizations collecting aid alongside the Red Crescent, the Presidency of Religious Affairs and its foundation, the Prime Ministry and the Parliament. IHH has collected 20 million liras and the Kimse Yok Mu Association 5 million liras, according to their own declarations. The Web site of the Prime Ministry said they also collected 5 million liras while the Red Crescent and Deniz Feneri both said they would declare the donation amounts at a "later" date.
Where this aid ends up is unknown. For example, in Kayseri, the minibus drivers declare that they will donate earnings of some days to Palestine. In Karaman, the Karaman Civil Society Platform, founded by various associations, collects donations in the name of IHH. Ali Güney, local journalist and a member of the platform, said they sent three truckloads and two trucks full of goods alongside 30,000 liras in cash.
The Solidarity Association with the Palestinian People, or FHDD, has managed only to collect medicine. Füsun Bandır, president of the association, said they have not seen the tolerance other humanitarian foundations claim and that they have faced many bureaucratic obstacles. Bandır said they are still collecting medicine for the campaign to end at the end of February that is why they have not been counting what they have collected. He said Islamic organizations are much better organized in collecting aid than the leftists. Osman Ilhan from Yardımeli Foundation suggested reporters should write news about the donations, instead of dealing with the fate of the aid collected.
Major organizations for donations
The Red Crescent in Turkey: Will declare the amount of aid later. Delivered 10 truckloads full of humanitarian aid packages Jan 2. Sent a convoy of five truckloads to the area loaded with 3,300 packages of food, 5,000 blankets and a ton of medicine Jan 8. Another convoy of 20 juggernauts hit the road Jan 13, loaded with 410 tons of basic food material and blankets. Ten injured Palestinians have been brought to Ankara alongside their attendants. On Jan. 11, 2 million liras worth of aid, consisting of medicine, medical equipment, baby diapers, baby food and blankets, was sent to Egypt via air shipment. Forty more trucks are set to leave for Gaza. Also, two ambulances will be sent to the area alongside machines for MRIs, tomographies and ultrasounds.
The Prime Ministry: The Prime Ministry has collected more than 4.76 million lira, $74,354 and 164,844 euros as of Jan 15. How these funds will be used is still unclear.
The Religious Affairs Directorate: The amount of collected aid is unknown. The Presidency declared the campaign ended Jan. 16, but there is still no announcement of the campaign’s end or the amount of funds collected.
Parliament: The amount of aid collected is unknown. A fund drive exclusive for deputies to attend has been started. The aid will be sent to Gaza through the Red Crescent.
Deniz Feneri Association: The association will declare the amount of aid Jan. 29. It has sent $30,000 worth of food and the same amount of medicine. Also, $260,000 worth of medicine and medical tools was transferred to the Han Yunus Hospital and 12 ambulances have been bought. Work is in progress for the construction of a village of 240 prefabricated houses in Palestine. The association will cover the costs of education, health and food for handicapped children in the area for 12 months.
Kimse Yok Mu Solidarity and Aid Association: The association has collected nearly 5.5 million liras. It has sent two trucks loaded with medicine, one truck of baby diapers, one truck of baby food, one truck of pasta and one truck of rice. Their volunteer psychiatrists are treating 22 people.
İHH: They have donated 20 million liras in cash and distributed tents, clothes and blankets worth 30,000 liras. The foundation sent 4.8 million liras in cash to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. It has sent 15 tons of medical equipment and 50 tons of flour three times alongside two tons of candles. Work is in progress to bring 30 wounded to Turkey alongside their attendants. Four volunteer doctors and one nurse have been sent to the area. They plan to buy three ambulances from Egypt and build two operating rooms.
Cansuyu Foundation: The foundation will declare the amount of aid collected later. They have sent two trucks of medicine and one truck of food.
The total amount of collected aid remains unknown but is considered to be many times the declared 30 million Turkish Liras. There are fund drives all across the country. In cities, civil society organizations are organizing fairs to collect aid but there is no information about how this aid is being collected, their records or where the money is being sent.
Tekin Küçükali, chairperson for the Red Crescent in Turkey, says those who claim, "I went to Gaza to distribute aid" are not telling the truth. Küçükali said the Red Crescent is the only foundation with permission to enter Gaza. "International banking is out of order there. No one can deliver aid outside of Israel’s control."
Officials from The Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, one of the foundations that collect aid said they have delivered the first batch of aid to Gaza and handed out cash Dec. 28 and blankets and equipment Dec. 29. They claim to be the first team that left Istanbul.
Everybody collects aid
Currently, the Deniz Feneri Association, the Kimse Yok Mu Solidarity and Aid Association, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, the Yardımeli Foundation and the Cansuyu Foundation are some of the many civil society organizations collecting aid alongside the Red Crescent, the Presidency of Religious Affairs and its foundation, the Prime Ministry and the Parliament. IHH has collected 20 million liras and the Kimse Yok Mu Association 5 million liras, according to their own declarations. The Web site of the Prime Ministry said they also collected 5 million liras while the Red Crescent and Deniz Feneri both said they would declare the donation amounts at a "later" date.
Where this aid ends up is unknown. For example, in Kayseri, the minibus drivers declare that they will donate earnings of some days to Palestine. In Karaman, the Karaman Civil Society Platform, founded by various associations, collects donations in the name of IHH. Ali Güney, local journalist and a member of the platform, said they sent three truckloads and two trucks full of goods alongside 30,000 liras in cash.
The Solidarity Association with the Palestinian People, or FHDD, has managed only to collect medicine. Füsun Bandır, president of the association, said they have not seen the tolerance other humanitarian foundations claim and that they have faced many bureaucratic obstacles. Bandır said they are still collecting medicine for the campaign to end at the end of February that is why they have not been counting what they have collected. He said Islamic organizations are much better organized in collecting aid than the leftists. Osman Ilhan from Yardımeli Foundation suggested reporters should write news about the donations, instead of dealing with the fate of the aid collected.
Major organizations for donations
The Red Crescent in Turkey: Will declare the amount of aid later. Delivered 10 truckloads full of humanitarian aid packages Jan 2. Sent a convoy of five truckloads to the area loaded with 3,300 packages of food, 5,000 blankets and a ton of medicine Jan 8. Another convoy of 20 juggernauts hit the road Jan 13, loaded with 410 tons of basic food material and blankets. Ten injured Palestinians have been brought to Ankara alongside their attendants. On Jan. 11, 2 million liras worth of aid, consisting of medicine, medical equipment, baby diapers, baby food and blankets, was sent to Egypt via air shipment. Forty more trucks are set to leave for Gaza. Also, two ambulances will be sent to the area alongside machines for MRIs, tomographies and ultrasounds.
The Prime Ministry: The Prime Ministry has collected more than 4.76 million lira, $74,354 and 164,844 euros as of Jan 15. How these funds will be used is still unclear.
The Religious Affairs Directorate: The amount of collected aid is unknown. The Presidency declared the campaign ended Jan. 16, but there is still no announcement of the campaign’s end or the amount of funds collected.
Parliament: The amount of aid collected is unknown. A fund drive exclusive for deputies to attend has been started. The aid will be sent to Gaza through the Red Crescent.
Deniz Feneri Association: The association will declare the amount of aid Jan. 29. It has sent $30,000 worth of food and the same amount of medicine. Also, $260,000 worth of medicine and medical tools was transferred to the Han Yunus Hospital and 12 ambulances have been bought. Work is in progress for the construction of a village of 240 prefabricated houses in Palestine. The association will cover the costs of education, health and food for handicapped children in the area for 12 months.
Kimse Yok Mu Solidarity and Aid Association: The association has collected nearly 5.5 million liras. It has sent two trucks loaded with medicine, one truck of baby diapers, one truck of baby food, one truck of pasta and one truck of rice. Their volunteer psychiatrists are treating 22 people.
İHH: They have donated 20 million liras in cash and distributed tents, clothes and blankets worth 30,000 liras. The foundation sent 4.8 million liras in cash to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. It has sent 15 tons of medical equipment and 50 tons of flour three times alongside two tons of candles. Work is in progress to bring 30 wounded to Turkey alongside their attendants. Four volunteer doctors and one nurse have been sent to the area. They plan to buy three ambulances from Egypt and build two operating rooms.
Cansuyu Foundation: The foundation will declare the amount of aid collected later. They have sent two trucks of medicine and one truck of food.