Karaismailoğlu: Our 2 trains consist of 47 wagons and carry approximately 750 tons of goodness materials. It will travel 4 thousand 168 kilometers. Iran will reach Afghanistan via Turkmenistan.
At the call of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the humanitarian aid train carrying 11 tons of materials collected by 750 aid organizations for the people of Afghanistan under the coordination of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) departed from Ankara Station.
To the ceremony held at the Historical Ankara Train Station due to the expedition of the “Goodness Train”; Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu, President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, General Manager of TCDD Transportation Hasan Pezük, Afghanistan Ankara Ambassador Amir Muhammed Ramin, representatives of non-governmental organizations, railwaymen attended.
In his speech at the ceremony, Karaismailoğlu said that Turkey stands by all the oppressed and those in need of kindness.
“46 tons of aid materials will be delivered with 750 wagons”
Expressing that they are with the people of Afghanistan, a friendly and brotherly country, Karaismailoğlu said, “Our 2 trains consist of 46 wagons and carry approximately 750 tons of goodness materials. It will travel 4 thousand 168 kilometers. Iran will reach Afghanistan via Turkmenistan.” said.
Reminding that the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad trains, which are called the southern line after the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars line, have also started to operate, Karaismailoğlu stated that the train will go through this corridor in 16 days.
“We must extend our hand to our brothers there together”
Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu pointed out that 12,9 million children in Afghanistan need help in cold weather conditions and noted that they are honored to be the children of a civilization of kindness.
Stating that Turkey will always stand by the people of Afghanistan, Soylu said, “We do not live in an accidental geography. We are not just a nation. We have our history, we have our culture, we have faith, we have what our beliefs and values teach and command. Perhaps it is one of the biggest mistakes we can make to ignore them and think of our peace in this geography as only belonging to this geography.” said.
Soylu also noted:
“The world is not just made up of 2022. There will be centuries after us. Just as our ancestors entrusted us with great nobility, entrusted aid to every corner of the world, and entrusted us with how brotherhood would be, we are responsible and obliged to continue the same. I'm emphasizing this. For the last 4 years, we have been the country that has given the most aid in the world, we are the nation. Whereas America is richer than us, Europe is richer than us. We are the children of a nation whose heart is rich and sensitive to this work. We must continue this together and extend our hand to our brothers there.”
Afghanistan's Ambassador to Ankara, Amir Muhammed Ramin, also referred to Turkey's benevolence and said:
“The best people are those who reach out to the needs of humanity and lend a helping hand. It is a great honor for me to be present at this very lofty and special event that puts into practice the vision and kind initiative of the brotherly country of Turkey, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which aims to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan. This great initiative is also an indication of the power and kindness of the people of Turkey and their leaders, who throughout history have determined to extend a helping hand to the needy as their main principle, starting from the glorious period of the Ottoman Empire to the present day of the mighty Turkish Republic.”
AFAD President Yunus Sezer stated that they stand by those who need help and said, “About 24 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian aid today. We sent our AFAD personnel there with the instructions of our Minister. After sending it, we had the opportunity to see how great the human drama was. From Bangladesh to Yemen, to Afghanistan and Syria, wherever there is a need, we take the hope and benevolence of this nation and convey the blessings of this nation to them.
“We will continue to strive for the railroad to increase fertility, friendship and brotherhood among the countries of the region.”
Hasan Pezük, General Manager of TCDD Transportation, also explained that trains going to China and Russia via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the Middle Corridor have now started to reach Pakistan and Afghanistan via Iran and Turkmenistan.
Stating that the aid train will travel 4 kilometers on the tracks of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan after Turkey, Pezük said, “As TCDD transportation family, we are very happy and honored to be a part of this organization and to support our Afghan brothers. We will continue to strive for the railroad to increase fertility, friendship and brotherhood among the countries of the region. Our 'Train of Kindness' is the most concrete example of this.” he said.
The humanitarian aid train was sent off from Ankara Train Station after the prayers of the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş.
The goods transported by TCDD Transportation wagons, passing through Iran with the “Goodness Train” and reaching the Inceburun railway border gate, will be transferred to Turkmen wagons in Inceburun and continue towards the last stop, Turgundi, which is the Turkmen border station of Afghanistan.
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