Gaziantep, Turkiye, March 26 (QNA) - The office of Qatar Charity (QC) in Gaziantep has started, since the first day of Ramadan, to distribute nearly 120,000 Iftar meals to those affected by the earthquake and the floods.

The focus was placed on the people who lost their homes, and moved to live in tents and shelters, like Syrian refugees, orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity, and needy families.

Qatar Charity said in a press release that the project was launched in cooperation and coordination with municipalities and local authorities operating in the affected areas.

In the most affected cities like Hatay, Kahraman Maraash, Adyaman, Qatar Charity, in cooperation with the Municipality of Uskudar, continues to distribute Iftar meals daily (1,500 meals in Hatay, 750 meals in Kahraman Maraash, and 750 meals in Ad?yaman) throughout the holy month.

The beneficiaries of the project, municipalities and concerned authorities in the affected regions expressed their gratitude to the philanthropists for supporting the project and to Qatar Charity for implementing it.

"We came from all Turkish cities to respond to the exceptional disaster in Hatay, the most affected city by the earthquake," said Helmi Turkmen, Mayor of the Municipality of Uskudar, at the launch of the project. "We work with the support of our friends from inside and outside Turkiye, including our brothers in Qatar." In Gaziantep, Qatar Charity, in cooperation with the Municipality of Shahinbey, distributes 1,500 Iftar meals to the affected people daily.

A delegation from Qatar Charity participated in a collective Iftar program organized by the Municipality of Shahinbey.

"The responsibility for the families of the martyrs who lost their breadwinners in the earthquake rest on our shoulder, and we hope that, in the blessed month of Ramadan, their situation will improve for the better." said Mehmet Tahmazoglu, Mayor of the Municipality of Shahinbey. "I welcome our partners from Qatar Charity, with whom we work to meet the needs of the affected and implement various projects to support them," added the mayor.

Director of the International Programs and Development Department at Qatar Charity Abdulaziz Jassim Hejji said "The implementation of Ramadan projects will enhance social bonds, cooperation and solidarity between individuals and different communities, and can encourage individuals to contribute to other projects and work together to improve their lives and the lives of local communities in general, and create a positive multiplier impact, especially in the holy month."

He noted that Charity Kitchen, which prepares Iftar meals, is a qualitative and integrated project that serves all sections of the community. "Our participation in the collective Iftar program had a positive impact on the families affected by the earthquake," he indicated.

Qatar Charity, in cooperation with the municipality of Shanliurfa, distributes 1,500 Iftar meals per day, and it also distributes 500 meals in Kilis, Ibrahim Karatume, Head of the Migration and Integration Services Department in the Sanl?urfa Metropolitan Municipality, said, "The distribution of carefully prepared Iftar meals enhances social solidarity in the month of compassion," noting that "Qatar Charity demonstrates the generosity of the Qatari people, as we have close relations with our friends working here through its office in Turkiye." He thanked the benefactors of Qatar for supporting the project. (QNA)