President Erdoğan describes the 'catastrophe' in Gaza at the G20 Leaders' Summit

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the "Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty" session as part of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brazil.

Stating that efforts to achieve the "2030 Sustainable Development Goals," adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 9 years ago, have not yet yielded the expected results in a world where one in every 10 people struggles with hunger, President Erdoğan reminded that Turkey is a representative of a tradition that considers it a duty to rush to help those in need wherever they are in the world.

Expressing that the nation, which has adopted the motto of "not sleeping with a full stomach while one's neighbor is hungry," has been among the "most benevolent countries in the world" by allocating approximately 1 percent of its national income to humanitarian aid since 2015, President Erdoğan stated that they view the Brazilian presidency's mobilization to establish a "Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty" not just as a strategic initiative, but also as a moral responsibility.

"MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS HEALTHY FOOD AND WATER"

President Erdoğan underlined that while establishing this global alliance today, civilians whose lives have been turned upside down in conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, especially in Gaza, should not be left to their fate, stating, "Especially in Gaza, the risk of famine has reached the level of a 'catastrophe' according to international classifications.

96 percent of the Gaza population, in other words, more than 2 million people, cannot access healthy food and water. With increasing attacks and the approaching winter season, the conditions of the people of Gaza are worsening day by day.

As Turkey, we have provided more than 86 thousand tons of aid to the region, and our aid to Lebanon has exceeded 1 thousand 300 tons. In the face of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, I once again call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to be established," he said.

"ZERO WASTE PROJECT HAS BECOME A GLOBAL MOVEMENT"

Stating that they have taken significant steps in the fight against poverty and in developing the social security network as a requirement of being a social state, President Erdoğan said that they have completely transformed the social security system with the understanding of "Let the people live so that the state may live," and have largely brought the poor segment under protection.

President Erdoğan emphasized that Turkey has one of the most encompassing and inclusive social security systems in the world, saying, "We look after our citizens in need with our various social support programs. Our goal is for not a single poor person to remain. We will continue our efforts until we achieve this."

Furthermore, expressing that they view playing an active role in various food security initiatives as an important element of humanitarian foreign policy, President Erdoğan stated that the "Black Sea Grain Initiative" prevented global food prices from rising rapidly and contributed to reducing the risk of famine. Pointing out that the "G20 Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems Action Plan," which they developed and submitted for approval during their 2015 G20 presidency, has guided many governments in their work, President Erdoğan said, "The 'Zero Waste Project,' which we launched to prevent environmental pollution and spread a culture of saving, has become a global movement in a short time.

March 30 was declared International Day of Zero Waste by the United Nations.

I believe that the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty should include the reduction of food waste and the zero waste initiative among its priorities. In concluding my remarks, I would like to emphasize that Turkey is always ready for cooperation for a world where every child, every young person, and every elderly person can access sufficient and healthy food," he said.