Türkiye Puts Ex-disaster Chief in Charge of Gaza Aid
Türkiye has put a former head of its disaster management agency in charge of its aid to Gaza, a Foreign Ministry source said, a sign it intends to ramp up its role as a guarantor of the new ceasefire.
President Tayyip Erdogan, a critic of Israel’s assault on Gaza, joined long-term mediators Qatar and Egypt this week in signing off on US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war.
The source said former head of Turkish AFAD disaster management authority Mehmet Gulluoglu, also a former ambassador, had been appointed as coordinator for humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and travelled to the region on Wednesday.
“Türkiye is mobilizing all its resources to rapidly deliver aid to Gaza, establish temporary housing areas, and for Gaza’s reconstruction,” the source said, Reuters reported.
Gulluoglu will conduct inspections to identify the necessary aid materials in Gaza and prioritise them, coordinate with UN agencies, ensure the unhindered delivery of aid from Türkiye, consult with Egyptian and Jordanian officials on deliveries, work on evacuating the wounded and ramping up Türkiye’s medical support to Gaza, the source said.
Ankara has said it would take part in an international task force to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire accord, though details have yet to be finalized.
The Turkish Defense Ministry has said its armed forces stand ready to take part in the task force in a military or civilian capacity as needed.
