---for their own security.
I was watching some turkish mosalsal in mbc maghrib and I was thinking of turkey and somalia, couldn't...
ANKARA
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, addressing reporters at a press conference on Monday, said Turkey's presence in Somalia is being questioned by some Western countries, stating that Turkey's ongoing aid to Somalia is not politically motivated, but is being provided for humanitarian purposes.
Bozdağ held a press conference in Ankara on Monday to mark the second anniversary of the start of a Turkish humanitarian campaign being conducted in Somalia since Aug. 19, 2011.
Stating that some Western countries question the frequent Turkish aid campaigns in Somalia, Bozdağ said: “The representatives of some Western countries repeatedly ask the Somali people what Turks want from them. The Somali brothers respond: ‘Turks don't want anything from us. On the contrary, we want help from them and they are only giving us what we are asking for.' I want to underline the fact that Turkey is in Somalia only for humanitarian purposes. Turkey is there to be able to resolve the problems of people living there. Turks are there to lend a helping hand to the Somali people to live in peace and prosperity. Turkey is not seeking any political or economic purpose in this country. I have said this many times before and will continue to say this in the future. However, those who are seeking political goals in this country cannot understand what we mean.”
A prolonged, 20-year civil war, the collapse of order and the worst drought in decades brought Somalia to the brink of total collapse two years ago. Thousands were starving to death in this country. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched a massive aid campaign in August of 2011, coinciding with the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. On Aug. 19, 2011, Erdoğan visited Somalia with a large delegation of ministers, businessmen, doctors, NGO representatives, celebrities and high-level bureaucrats.
Recalling the visit of Erdoğan to Somalia, Bozdağ said the prime minister planned that visit to draw the world's attention to the humanitarian crisis there. Stating that Turkey has so far provided aid worth nearly TL 507 million to Somalia, Bozdağ said: “While the world was closing its eyes to the human tragedy in Somalia two years ago, Turkey was the only country that was tirelessly working to help people in need there. The prime minister went there with four planes full of politicians, intellectuals and celebrities to attract the attention of the world. Erdoğan's visit to Somalia was a milestone for the Somali people.”
Sharing the details about the aid that Turkey has given to Somalia, Bozdağ said tens of thousands of tons of aid were sent to Somalia via nine planes and 10 ships. “Most people were living in unsanitary conditions and they became ill. There were no medical facilities to treat those people. However, people are no longer dying due to a lack of medical response thanks to the Turkish contributions. Turkey has sent 92 healthcare personnel, 304 tons of medicines and sent five ambulances and several other medical response vehicles. Turkey has established four hospitals in the country.”
Pointing to the significance of education in the country's development, Bozdağ said a total of 1,418 Somali students have been receiving education at Turkish universities thanks to scholarships provided by charity foundations and charitable businessmen.
Regarding the bomb attack on the Turkish Embassy in the Somali capital in July, Bozdağ said Turkey has sent five armored vehicles to Somalia as a security measure following the incident.
