The Turkish and Lebanese flags side by side at the top of a monument at the entrance to the village of Kouashra, in North Lebanon. (Credit: Archive photo João Sousa/L’Orient-Le Jour)
A total of 280 tons of meat donated by Turkey as humanitarian aid was handed over on Tuesday to Lebanese organizations. The Turkish charity Sadaqa Stone (Stone of Charity) and several Turkish civil society organizations delivered "frozen meat from the sacrifices of the Eid al-Adha festival" as part of a humanitarian project worth more than $2 million, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA). The aid is expected to benefit around 14,000 families across the country, according to a statement released Tuesday.
The initiative comes as Lebanon and Turkey strengthen diplomatic ties. Last month, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam each traveled to Turkey for separate meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior Turkish officials. During his visit to Ankara on July 30, Aoun sought Turkish support to reinforce internationally the framework agreement reached with Israel on June 26.
'Reaching more regions across Lebanon'
Sadaqa Stone said distribution of the aid began Tuesday evening in coordination with municipalities and civil society organizations across Lebanon to reach the country's most vulnerable populations.
"Portions of meat were distributed in all governorates of Lebanon, through charitable associations operating in each area," Kamal Maksad, the representative of the Turkish World Business Council in Lebanon, told L'Orient-Le Jour, noting that the meat had originally been imported from India.
The handover was attended by Economy Minister Amer Bisat, High Relief Committee Secretary-General Bassam al-Naboulsi, representatives of the Turkish Embassy in Lebanon and Osman Nuri Kabak, head of the Palestinian Support Platform in Turkey.
"The sources of Turkish aid have diversified over time," Maksad noted. "While most aid continues to be provided by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the main official body, other Turkish charitable associations and civil organizations are increasingly active in Lebanon."
In his remarks, Bisat praised "the beautiful friendship between Lebanon and Turkey," stating, "Brothers support each other in difficult times, and that is what Turkey is doing for Lebanon today." His comments referred to the five humanitarian aid shipments Turkey has sent to Lebanon since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed on March 2.
"Thanks to five major maritime shipments, emergency assistance worth more than $30 million has been delivered to Lebanon," Sadaqa Stone President Kemal Ozdal said on Monday.
"The increase in quantities distributed has enabled wider outreach to different regions of Lebanon," Maksad added, noting that Turkish aid had historically been concentrated in the country's north.
Ankara's regional role
Beyond humanitarian assistance, Beirut hopes closer ties with Turkey will translate into greater political and security support. Lebanese officials believe Ankara's regional influence and Erdogan's close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump could help secure stronger guarantees from Israel, particularly regarding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the creation of a multilateral monitoring mechanism.
Joseph Aoun's trip marked only the third official visit by a Lebanese president to Turkey in the past 70 years.
For its part, Turkey has said it is prepared to participate in efforts to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty after the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires in December and to support the Lebanese Armed Forces on security matters.
During Aoun's visit, Erdogan also declared that Turkey was ready to play an active role in " the reconstruction of southern Lebanon, heavily damaged by Israeli attacks."
Israel, however, views Ankara's growing role with suspicion, as Erdogan has increasingly positioned Turkey as a regional counterweight to Israeli expansionism while also seeking to curb Iran's role in the Middle East.
