ANKARA: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) announced on Thursday, in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent Society, the opening of a central kitchen in the Adiyaman region, southeastern Turkey, to serve those affected and displaced by the 2023 earthquake that struck Turkey and caused fires that swept through some areas. KRCS Deputy Chairman Dr Nasser Al-Tanak told KUNA after the opening of the project that the kitchen building covers an area of 1,067 square meters and consists of two floors with a capacity to serve 15,000 people daily.

He added that the cost of the project amounted to about $800,000, noting that the project’s support came entirely from the KRCS in support of the friendly Turkish people. He pointed out that Kuwait always seeks, whether at the governmental or popular levels, to provide a helping hand to the needy, the affected, and the displaced person regardless of their gender, nationality, religion, or affiliation. The central kitchen is fully equipped with modern equipment and devices that help it reach its full capacity for those affected in the region and neighboring areas.

For his part, the governor of Adiyaman, Dr Osman Varol, said, “We as a country went through difficult times during the February 2023 earthquake and were able to overcome this disaster — thanks to our friends, who are our brothers in religion and humanity.” In a speech during the opening, Varol expressed his thanks to Kuwait, its government and people, and the Kuwait Red Crescent for standing by the Turkish people in difficult days, stressing that they have indeed proven that they are friends in times of hardship. He said that the opening of this kitchen is an incentive to provide aid to those affected and in dire need of a comprehensive diet, stressing that they are “making every effort to increase the capacity of this charitable kitchen to perform its role to the fullest.” — KUNA