WALVIS BAY – The Turkish Navy task force that is currently on an 102-day voyage around the African continent handed 4 500 tonnes of food to the Governor of the Erongo Region , Cleophas Mujtavikua, for distribution to drought-affected residents in the region.
The naval taskforce, which is currently sailing around Africa to strengthen bilateral relations with the continent, also handed over 80 wheelchairs for children as well 300 school bags with stationery.
Those in need of wheelchairs will be identified at a later stage. The school bags were handed over last week Friday already to learners of !Nara Primary School in Tutaleni.
Members of the Turkish Navy last Friday also visited and handed over food to the Walvis Bay State Hospital and the Walvis Bay Child and Family Centre that deals with disabled women.
According to the Turkish Ambassador Deniz Cakar, the donations were made possible by a capacity building and aid agency based in Turkey after needs of the region were communicated by Governor Mutjavikua during an earlier visit by Turkish army officers.
“The donation was further made possible with the financial contribution of the government and food aid was transported by the task force to Namibia,” Cakar explained.
Governor Mutjavikua during the handing over of the donations thanked the Turkish government and the task navy force for reaching out to vulnerable people in the region. He said the gesture might seem small to many but would definitely make a huge difference to those who are to benefit.
The Turkish naval task force which left for South Africa on Sunday is currently on a 102-day mission around the African continent.
The naval force is referred to as the Barbaros Turkish Maritime Task Group and comprises four ships, namely the Frigate Gediz, Orucreis, Corvette Heybeliada and the fleet oiler, YB Kudret Gungor. The flotilla of four ships is deployed to sail approximately 15 000 nautical miles while visiting 24 African countries.
The ships will make courtesy calls on and visits to various port cities in Africa.
According to Cakar the aim of the visits is to improve bilateral relations with African nations as well as to contribute to the safety of sea lines of communication while at the same time provide support to ongoing anti-piracy efforts.
The force is expected to conduct guided missile and gunnery firing at the Denel Overberg test range in South Africa this week before embarking to another African country.
The task force started its cruise on March 17 this year and arrived in Namibia last week Thursday, and left on Sunday for South Africa.
By Eveline de Klerk