ANKARA: Turkey’s health minister on Thursday called upon the World Health Organization (WHO) to enhance its support for the provision of medical services to individuals in Gaza affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
Turkey has so far dispatched nine cargo planes of aid to Egypt for the Gaza Strip, and offered to set up a field hospital in Egypt to treat the injured and fly some to Turkey if needed.
The country has also condemned Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave and stressed for an immediate ceasefire to allow more humanitarian aid.
WHO asked to fulfill its responsibility
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a letter to WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to fulfill his professional responsibility to support civilians in need and told him that WHO’s efforts should be much more than what have been done so far.
Koca in the letter, which he also posted on X, formerly Twitter said WHO, with its responsibility of leadership and by taking necessary initiatives urgently, must ensure the safety of healthcare provisions in Gaza
Turkey has taken a tough stance against Israel as the fighting and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have intensified.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said Hamas is a liberation group fighting to protect Palestinian lands and people, while slamming Western states for their support of Israel.
