Turkey's first lady thanks for humanitarian award

ANKARA

Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan on Thursday thanked Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for an award which recognizes her humanitarian services.

"Thank you dear sister @drwanazizah for your kind wishes,” Emine Erdogan wrote on Twitter.

"I hope we will continue to work together for a more peaceful and prosperous world," Turkish First Lady added.

On Wednesday, Wan Azizah re-posted Turkish Presidency’s tweet, which shows pictures of Emine Erdogan at the award ceremony.

"Congrats Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan receives humanitarian service award," Wan Azizah said.

On Tuesday, the Turkish First Lady received the Humanitarian Service Recognition Award at the Global Donors Forum in London.

Separately, the head of The European Rohingya Council (ERC) Hla Kyaw also congratulated Erdogan over the award.

In a statement, Kyaw said: "You truly deserve it. Our community can never forget your sincere, first and foremost extraordinary solidarity for the most oppressed community in the world -- Rohingya."

During her acceptance speech in London, Erdogan said: "The Turkish nation is a philanthropic nation with a deep-rooted history of charitable foundations."

She said Turkey was extending a helping hand to millions of refugees across the world.

"Turkey is the largest donor of humanitarian aid in the world as a ratio of its gross national income," the first lady said.

"I receive The Humanitarian Service Recognition Award on behalf of such a noble nation which represents the conscience of humanity.

"The true recipient of this meaningful award which I am honored to accept is my country, my state, and my nation which respond to any cry for help no matter where it comes from and regardless of religion, language or race!"

Reporting by Nazli Yuzbasioglu; Writing by Handan Kazanci