By James Kunda
LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Turkiye’s ambassador to Zambia Istem Circiroglu on Tuesday made a pledge of continued relief support to help restore food security in the drought-hit southern African nation.
This came after the Turkish government, through its disaster management agency AFAD, handed over 600 food packages worth $25,000 to the Zambian Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in the capital Lusaka. The packages included mealie meal, beans, cooking oil, sugar, salt, honey and rice.
“In 2024, Turkish relief and assistance to Zambia has amounted to close to half a million US dollars, Circiroglu said, adding that many Turkish agencies including TIKA, Turkish Red Crescent and Diyanet Foundation are involved in relief efforts.
Receiving the donation, DMMU national coordinator Gabriel Pollen thanked Turkiye for being an all-weather partner.
Pollen said his team had continued implementing all efforts in responding to the emergency of drought which has affected over 9 million people, according to the UN.
Zambia is experiencing the driest agricultural season in more than 40 years, resulting in significant crop losses, increased livestock deaths, and worsening poverty.