Aid trucks sent by IMM to Gaza set off

Speaking at the "Gaza Aid Trucks Send-off" program held at the IMM Logistics and Supplies Directorate in Sultangazi, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said that one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies in the Middle East region has been taking place in Gaza since October.

Stating that no justification can mitigate the crime of massacring innocent babies, children, women, the elderly, and civilians, İmamoğlu said, "We are now living in days where what is happening there has become normalized and, unfortunately, does not even carry news value. As the people of Istanbul, we certainly cannot remain spectators or indifferent to the trivialization of this humanitarian tragedy, and we have not. I wish mercy to those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured. A crime against humanity is being committed in Gaza every day, every minute. According to some experts and legal scholars, this genocide committed by Israel has unfortunately gone down in history as a dark process."

Reminding that a decision was made in the IMM Assembly to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza as soon as the Israeli attacks began, İmamoğlu continued his words as follows:

"Because of this common sensitivity and will demonstrated in our Municipal Assembly, I thank all political parties and our Municipal Assembly members here in your presence. We have procured food, hygiene materials, baby-mother kits, baby milk, formula, and clothing materials for the purpose of aiding Gaza, and today, through the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), we are sending them to the people of Gaza on behalf of our nation and the beautiful people of our city. 

The aid materials were prepared in accordance with the standards requested by AFAD. We are sending off these 5 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid materials that you see here to be delivered to the Kızılay warehouse in Adana. It is our duty to alleviate the suffering of Gaza and to support the people of Gaza in holding onto life, and it will continue to be our duty from now on."

Following the speeches, the aid trucks set off.

After this program, İmamoğlu attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the urban transformation project in Yunus Emre Neighborhood in Sultangazi.

Explaining that the project is a reserve housing project and will be a life-saving solution for people living in risky structures in this region, İmamoğlu said, "We designed this place with care. With its architecture, it will truly both add value to its surroundings and set a direction, as well as carry a certain quality. For example, wherever we build such a project, we absolutely include a nursery. It will serve the children there. It will be a point that offers very careful services to the neighborhood house, youth, and women. We will turn it into a complete living space with its indoor parking lots as well."

Following the speeches, İmamoğlu and those accompanying him pressed the button to pour the first mortar into the foundation.

The project includes 507 independent units, 488 of which are residential and 19 of which are commercial, as well as 1 nursery, 1 neighborhood house, and an indoor parking lot.

CITY RESTAURANT OPENED

Later attending the opening of the City Restaurant (Kent Lokantası) in the district, İmamoğlu said in his speech here that the restaurant has a capacity of 60 seats, but with a new arrangement, the capacity will be increased to 160 seats.

İmamoğlu noted that 4 types of meals are sold for 40 liras at the restaurant.

News Source: AA