Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Barış Ulusoy poses with Lebanese state officials and notables at Tripoli port Saturday. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — A shipment comprising 950 tons of food and flour sent by 17 Turkish NGOs, intended for “distribution to those in need by local authorities and organizations,” arrived at Tripoli port Saturday, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• The delivery was made in coordination with the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), under the patronage of Turkey’s interior ministry. Tripoli port general director Ahmad Tamer thanked Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Barış Ulusoy for “the interest shown in Lebanon and its people by the Turkish state and associations,” noting that they were receiving donations for the “third time in two weeks.” Turkish donations intended for Lebanon’s security services had arrived at the port in March.
• Tamer also thanked Secretary-General of the Higher Relief Committee Maj. Gen. Muhammad Khair on “behalf of Prime Minister Najib Mikati”; Khair in turn thanked Ulusoy, reasuring him that “the donations will reach the Lebanese people and associations, and they will be distributed under the supervision of Turkish organizations and in coordination with Lebanese associations.”
• Ulusoy promised that “Turkey would not leave the Lebanese in these difficult times,” recalling the “524 tons of food aid that we provided last week to the Lebanese security services, and the 80 tons of food and in-kind aid that we provided to the Lebanese army in the port of Beirut yesterday.”