In Gaza, which Israel began bombing on October 7, 2023, schools, mosques, hospitals, bakeries, refugee camps and UN buildings were targeted and rendered unusable. Since the first day, more than 10,000 civilian Palestinians from Gaza have been martyred by Israel, including 4,000 children and 2,500 women.

All this brutality has taken place before the eyes of the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, the Islamic world and the entire international community.

We have never left the people of Gaza alone...

Through the office it opened in Gaza in 2008, Yardımeli Association has delivered all kinds of financial and in-kind aid to the people of Gaza. In particular, through the “Sister Family” project, more than 9,000 Gazans have been supported to date. In addition to Ramadan and Qurbani activities, monthly financial support has also been provided to students of the Islamic University of Gaza.

Gaza, which has been under Israeli blockade and turned into an open-air prison, had its electricity, water and communications completely cut off after October 7, leaving nearly 2 million people facing hunger, thirst and death. After communication was cut off, we managed to reach our Gaza Office Director, Mr. Hani, despite very limited possibilities. He informed us that due to life-threatening risks, our office staff in northern Gaza had moved to southern Gaza together with their families. Aid activities could only continue in this way. Food and essential supplies are periodically distributed by our office staff.

The passage of aid through the Rafah border crossing is subject to restrictions…

Only a limited number of aid trucks can enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing located on the Egyptian border. Trucks passing through are inspected by the UN and Israel. The Egyptian administration only allows aid passage to the Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian Red Crescent societies and approves the entry of limited humanitarian supplies. Other countries must cooperate with the Red Crescent of these three countries. The Turkish Red Crescent also obtains the lists of needed supplies from local Red Crescent officials working in Gaza and delivers them through Egypt.

Cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent to supply medical materials…

Yardımeli Association President Dr. Sadık Danışman, General Manager İmdat Kuzu and Yardımeli Ankara Branch Director Nuri Bahar visited the President of the Turkish Red Crescent, Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz. With the support we received from our donors, we donated 1,500,000 TL to the Turkish Red Crescent to provide medical supplies needed in Gaza.

As Yardımeli Association, we are grateful for the support and solidarity shown by the Turkish Red Crescent to the people of Gaza during these difficult days.

In the coming days, we will support all the needs of the wounded and their companions who will be brought from Gaza to Egypt and Türkiye. Our teams will soon travel to Egypt to coordinate humanitarian aid activities in the region.

Since its establishment, Yardımeli Association has been in Palestine – in Gaza and Jerusalem – yesterday, today and will continue to be there tomorrow. With the support of our donors, we will continue our solidarity and humanitarian support for the Palestinian people.