TIKA distributes food to hundreds in S.Africa, Eswatini

Turkey's state-run aid agency distributed food hampers and prepared iftar meals Friday for hundreds of fasting Muslims in South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.

"We distributed food parcels to more than four hundred Muslims in Soweto township in Johannesburg today," Mehmet Akif Şekerci, coordinator for the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) told Anadolu Agency.

He said the food distribution to help fasting Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan was conducted at Masjid ul Ummah that was also renovated by the agency.

Sekerci said the recipients of the food were happy and expressed appreciation to Turkey.

"On Thursday, we also distributed food parcels and later had an iftar [fast-breaking meal] with more than 300 Muslims at the Swaziland Islamic Center in the Kingdom of eSwatini," Lebohang Matsoso, an administrative assistant at TIKA's Pretoria office told Anadolu Agency.

He said the agency is planning to distribute food parcels to hundreds of Muslims in Lesotho and Cape Town before the end of Ramadan.

Despite being in operation in South Africa for just a year, TIKA has undertaken several development projects in the region.

TIKA partnered with South African authorities last year to help refurbish orphanages, particularly those for children born with HIV/AIDS.

They have also renovated mosques, hospitals among others.

Since its founding in 1992, TIKA has been responsible for facilitating Turkey's official development assistance by providing help to developing countries.

TIKA currently is engaged in a variety of developmental cooperation activities in 150 countries through its 60 program coordination offices, including 20 in Africa.

Some of the projects it is tackling are in the fields of education, health, water, and sanitation. Others include agricultural development, civil and economic infrastructure, restoration and tourism, among others.