The first Turkish Train of Kindness, filled with humanitarian aid materials directed to Pakistan, is underway. Turkey is the first country to send humanitarian aid to Pakistan, where floods have already caused the death of almost 1,200 people and forced hundreds of thousands to abandon their houses. The train left the Historical Ankara Station on Tuesday, 30 August.

The convoy is loaded with 470 tons of goods, including tents, blankets, and food, distributed among 29 wagons. The materials were prepared and gathered by NGOs coordinated by the Turkish General Directorate of Transportation and Disaster (TCDD) and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

A second train made up of 28 wagons and loaded with 458 tons of humanitarian aid materials left Turkey on Thursday, 1 September.

Humanitarian aid from Turkey by rail and air

“The materials provided by the efforts and support of our non-governmental organizations, especially the Turkish Red Crescent, will meet the urgent needs of our Pakistani brothers and contribute to the healing of their wounds,” said Ufuk Yalcın, General Manager of TCDD.

Some of the material is being delivered by planes as well. The Turkish plan is to send 10,000 tents, 50,000 food parcels, 50,000 hygiene materials, and 10,000 parcels of baby food in total to help Pakistanis through these difficult times.

This is not the first instance in which Turkey sens humanitarian help to countries in the Middle East. Ankara has been sending similar trains to Afghanistan since the beginning of the year. Just last week, in fact, Turkey sent the sixth Train of Kindness to Kabul.

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