Northern Cyprus sends humanitarian aid to Gaza

LEFKOSA, Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) dispatched two trucks of humanitarian aid to Gaza on Friday, as part of a relief effort organized by the TRNC Cyprus Foundations Administration and supported by various institutions.

The convoy was launched during a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials, including Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Unal Ustel. Tatar reaffirmed the region's solidarity with the Palestinian people and expressed gratitude to those contributing to the aid initiative.

Vahap Gultekin, representing the Cyprus Palestine Initiative, underscored the critical situation in Gaza, pointing to the impact of Israeli attacks and blockades, which have caused severe water shortages.

The aid will be transported by ship to Mersin, southern Türkiye, and then delivered to Gaza by Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.

Since the Israeli offensive began on Oct. 7, nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, with the ongoing blockade causing acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

*Writing by Yasin Gungor in Istanbul