ANKARA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye on Tuesday dispatched a humanitarian aid vessel to Gaza, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announcing the departure of the ship "Akdeniz" from the southern Port of Mersin.
"Our ship will arrive at El Arish Port to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters in Gaza and bring hope to their tables," he said in a post on social media X.
The vessel, coordinated by Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority with contributions from 17 non-governmental organizations, is transporting about 900 tons of humanitarian aid, including ready-to-eat meals, canned food, and baby formula.
Yerlikaya noted that since July 27, following Israel's partial permissions, Türkiye has managed to deliver 333 trucks carrying approximately 4,500 tons of food supplies to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.
He added that an additional 427 trucks, holding another 4,500 tons of humanitarian materials, remain in storage at Egypt's El Arish warehouses awaiting clearance for entry. ■
