By Jurugo Emmanuel Ogasto
Turkiye Embassy in South Sudan, on Wednesday, distributed over 300 Ramadan food packages to venerable Muslim faithful in Juba.
The food packages included cooking oil, lentils, beans, rice, sugar, and maize flour.
The donation was handed over to the Muslim community by the Turkiye Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in the presence of the Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan and the leadership of the South Sudan Islamic Council.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Juba Islamic University in Konyo-Konyo, Erdem Mutaf, the Turkiye Ambassador to South Sudan, said the assistance is a symbol of Turkiye support and solidarity with the people of South Sudan, especially the Muslim community.
“We are giving these items to you to support you during this Ramadan period, and we shall continue to support you even when Ramadan is over,” Mutaf said.
“Every year, we try our best to help our brothers and sisters in South Sudan,” he added.
The Turkiye diplomat pointed out that the Turkiye Embassy, along with the country’s aid agency, is working closely to see that donations also reach refugees, returnees, and orphans.
“As the Turkiye Embassy, we are working closely to support our brothers returning from Sudan, refugees, and orphans,” he underscored.
Abdallah Baraj, the Secretary-General of the South Sudan Islamic Council, hailed the Turkiye Embassy for reaching out to vulnerable people in need.
He pledged that the Islamic Council of South Sudan will continue to collaborate and work with the Republic of Turkiye.
“The Turkish Embassy has really tried to help us during this holy month of Ramadan; we really appreciate the ambassador, and we even wish him not to be transferred because he loves the people of South Sudan,” Abdallah said.
He also urged the Muslim community to always show love to everyone during this holy month of Ramadan.
“I urge you to always show this kind of love for other people as the ambassador did,’’ he said.
Samim Abdul, one of the beneficiaries, applauded the Turkish government for the package.
“This is a very big support for me, especially for us who are widows. I really thank them, and may Allah bless them and help more others,” she said.
The Republic of Turkiye has donated food items to over 10,000 people within two weeks in different parts of Juba.
The majority of South Sudanese follow Christianity or traditional religions, but an estimated 6.2% of the population is Muslim as of 2020, according to recent research.