Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The aid campaign which TOBB has started in regards to the hunger disaster taking place in Africa was announced in a press meeting held at the TOBB Union Center with the attendance of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Religious Affairs President Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech during the press meeting, said that over 40 million people in Africa, especially children, are faced with the danger of hunger on chronic level.

- About 40 million are fighting against hunger

Stating that a crisis of humanity was unfolding in Somali, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that 40 million people were on the brink of starvation in the 21st century.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “These countries are the poorest and the least developed in Eastern Africa. Civil wars which have lasted for the better part of a quarter century and which have recently spread have damaged the resources of these countries gravely.
As Turkey, we have a familiarity and shared history to this region for nearly three hundred years stemming from the Ottoman Empire. In this month of mercy and forgiveness a mission falls to us.”

- Aid is a historical responsibility and a human necessity

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that we have a responsibility from shared history and a human necessity to help tens of thousands of women, children and elderly suffering in misery, and went on;
“Remember Our Prophet’s hadith, ‘Those who sleep content while their neighbors go hungry are not of us’. Thus, in cooperation with the Religious Affairs Presidency, TOBB is starting an aid campaign.
As TOBB, we have provided monetary aid to Sumatra and Java islands of Indonesia during the tsunami disaster of 2005 and for the earthquake and flood disasters in Pakistan during 2010.

Now, we want to stand beside the people of Africa, to share their pain and support them. Therefore, in cooperation with the Religious Affairs Presidency, we are starting an aid campaign. I call out to the Turkish world and look forward to their support.

The ‘TOBB – Africa Famine Disaster Aid Account’ in the TOBB branch of the Türkiye İş Bank is awaiting donations of everyone as of today.”

- TOBB started off campaign with a one million TL donation

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that as the TOBB Board, in order to do their share, “We donate one million TL as TOBB to start off the campaign.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke, “The blessed month of Ramadan, which started a week ago, besides its properties of Fasting, religious faith and worship, strengthens the social justice and solidarity values of societies.

The announcement of the Religious Affairs Presidency that the donations will count towards qadar has been sagacious and favorable. This timely decision will increase support for the campaign.

In this regard I would like to thank the President of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez on behalf of the Turkish business world. As the President of Religious Affairs, he is very involved in the business world.

Now, we strengthen our cooperation with the Religious Affairs and extend our hand to Africa. The aid collected during this campaign will be transferred to the Religious Affairs Presidency as per the Prime Ministry notice of 2011/9 and be delivered to Africa via official channels.

Throughout history we have been a nation known for our tradition of helping and sharing. For this reason we cannot remain indifferent to the events in Africa.

As we fight against our nafs, hunger and thirst, we will not forget the people of Africa who are struggling under much harsher conditions.

We will fulfill our responsibility. As the Turkish business world, we show the grace and abundance of Ramadan by extending our helping hand to Africa.”

Türkiye İş Bankası TOBB Branch
“TOBB – Afrika Açlık Felaketi Yardım Hesabı” opened. 
IBAN: TR88 0006 4000 0014 3750 0003 33
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