Charity Ahbap’s founder: Turkish Red Crescent also sold food to us

The social assistance organization AHBAP’s founder famous singer Haluk Levent on Feb. 27 said that the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) sold not only tents to AHBAP association, but also food to be distributed to the earthquake victims.

Levent’s remarks came after the Kızılay’s selling tents to AHBAP association on the 3rd day of major earthquakes has drawn ire.

“We purchased 30,000 units of food from Kızılay Lojistik A.Ş, which is a subsidiary of the Kızılay, that meets the 3 meals in a day of a family of 4 and does not spoil for a year,” Levent said in a tweet.

Levent also told broadcaster Fox TV that even the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) had bought tents from the Kızılay.

Replying to the criticisms of purchasing tents from the Kızılay, Levent said “We learned that there are 2050 tents (of the Kızılay) prepared for export. It is known that Kızılay’s subsidiaries sell tents. Earthquake time or not, it is known. I can’t think of anything at that moment. People are dying there, trembling outside. I have to bring tents to people there. I would have bought even 20,000. Is it affordable? Yes. We were able to buy it for 19,000 liras per tent. We were able to get a discount.”

Kızılay’s head Kerem Kınık confirmed the purchase of food, adding “the Kızılay deliver the donations it receives to those in need, it certainly does not sell it.”

“The commercial relationship established with the AHBAP was not with the Kızılay, but with one of its subsidiaries. In the most difficult times, our citizens continue to be served with its specialized capacity in providing healthy and reliable food,” Kınık added.

The Kızılay sold tents to the social assistance organization AHBAP for 46 million liras on the 3rd day of major earthquakes that shook Turkey’s southeast, Murat Ağırel from the daily Cumhuriyet reported on Feb. 25. AHBAP and the Kızılay confirmed the reporting.