Turkish aid group helps refugee families in Afghanistan

A Turkish charity group on Friday opened a new refugee camp to serve 100 families in northern Afghanistan.

The camp in the Belh province was opened by the Turkey Diyanet Foundation (TDV), a charity group linked to Turkey's state Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet).

Speaking at the camp's opening ceremony, Şevki Seçkin Alpay, Turkey's consul in Mazar-i Sherif, said that Turkey wants Afghanistan to have peace, prosperity, and a bright future.

Alpay told how Turkish aid agencies operate in numerous areas in Afghanistan and said that as long as the Afghan people want it, Turkey will stay and continue to offer help.

The camp was built with donations from the people of Kayseri in central Turkey, said Abdulcelil Alpkiray, the consulate's religious services attache.

Also attending the camp's opening ceremony were Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) country coordinator Zühtü

Çal, Maarif Foundation country director Şakir Voyvot, and Turkish Foreign Ministry representative Nuruddin Rahmani.

The raging Afghan conflict is in its bloody 18th year, with thousands of lives lost and millions of people forced to flee their homes.