By Burcu Calik Gocumlu
ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meric Yilmaz urged the immediate opening of a humanitarian aid corridor in Gaza on Wednesday, condemning the Israeli attack on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and expressing sorrow over the loss of at least 471 lives.
There are basic principles of international humanitarian law that must be followed in times of war, no matter where in the world, Yilmaz told Anadolu, noting that the Turkish Red Crescent is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) within the scope of the Geneva Convention, emphasizing the importance of adhering to such principles.
She explained that the most important of these principles are "allowing humanitarian aid, keeping the humanitarian aid corridor open, and keeping civilians safe."
"While the whole world is emphasizing these clearly evident principles, we are heartbroken by the attack carried out yesterday," she said.
She expressed "deep sadness" about the hospital attack on Tuesday evening, which violated these established principles.
The Israeli forces carried out the attack while the hospital was without power and injured people, including women and children, were being treated by dedicated healthcare workers.
- Raise voice against attacks on Gaza
Yilmaz said there are infants in incubators, patients in hospitals who rely on respiratory systems, and surgeries that must be performed, all of which require electricity.
She mentioned that the Turkish Red Crescent treated both Turkish and enemy soldiers during World War I.
"Even in war, there is honor. People fight in conflicts, but civilians, women, and children should not be targeted.
"Targeting a place like a hospital is something we cannot even fathom," she said, condemning these attacks on people.
As a humanitarian aid organization and member of the IFRC, "we call on the world to raise its voice against these attacks."
"We must find a way to provide aid, food, and medication to the people of Gaza. We need to provide fuel assistance so that hospitals can continue to operate,” she said, adding that if this event is remembered in this manner, "I don't know what principles we will leave to our children, and I don't know what answers we will have for them."
- ‘Humanitarian aid corridor must be opened’
Yilmaz stressed that three planes carrying humanitarian aid were sent to Gaza in collaboration with AFAD, but mentioned that the aid is currently being struck at the Rafah Border Crossing on the Egyptian side.
She also mentioned that Ibrahim Altan, the general manager of the Turkish Red Crescent, held discussions with the Red Crescent and authorities in Egypt before returning to Türkiye on Wednesday.
She emphasized their serious efforts to deliver humanitarian aid, saying, "The humanitarian aid corridor must be opened without fail. The world must speak with one voice and remind conflicting parties of the laws of war and the principles of international humanitarian law."
- ‘We are ready to establish field hospitals’
The Turkish Red Crescent president said the aid materials waiting at the Rafah Border Crossing would be delivered as soon as the border opened.
Yilmaz added that locally sourced personnel in Palestine are delivering aid to people with limited resources on the ground.
She recalled that Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca proposed sending a hospital ship to the region and establishing field hospitals near Gaza or the Rafah Border Crossing.
"As the Turkish Red Crescent, we are prepared to provide any and all assistance in the establishment of field hospitals. Furthermore, plans are being made to send a ship to the region through a joint organization of Turkish aid agencies.
"We have also launched a fundraising campaign for Palestine at the Turkish Red Crescent. We are currently only accepting cash donations in this campaign because a humanitarian aid corridor to deliver in-kind donations to the area is not yet in place," she explained.
"Our most significant advantage here is that we are members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Federation, which allows us to coordinate aid efforts with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent organizations.
“We are continuing our preparations for the distribution of humanitarian aid materials sourced from Egypt to Gaza on one hand and for our local personnel in Palestine to acquire and distribute materials from Gaza on the other," she added.
To contribute to the Turkish Red Crescent's aid campaign for Palestine, you can send an SMS with the word "FİLİSTİN" in capital letters to 2868 to make a donation of 20 Turkish liras.
*Writing by Esra Tekin and Necva Tastan in Istanbul