Organized with the contributions of 10 non-governmental organizations under the coordination of the General Directorate of TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ and AFAD, the 6th Group “Goodness Trains” were sent off from Ankara Station on August 24, 2022.
TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ Deputy General Manager Çetin Altun, AFAD Vice President Hamza Taşdelen, managers of 10 non-governmental organizations and railwaymen attended the farewell ceremony.
In his speech, TCDD Transport Deputy General Director Çetin Altun said that 5 trains in 13 groups, 298 wagons, 228 containers and a total of 5 thousand 534 tons of aid materials have been provided by many non-governmental organizations, especially the Turkish Red Crescent, and the precious railroad family. He said it was delivered to our brothers.
In his speech, Altun said: “Today, we are sending off the 6th group 3 train with 69 wagons and 1500 tons of cargo to our brothers in Afghanistan. Our 'Goodness Trains', which will depart from Turkey and reach the city of Turgundi in Afghanistan via Iran, will travel 4 kilometers like our other kindness trains and reach those in need in a short period of 168 to 11 days.
Altun said, “The 'Goodness Trains', which set off with the leadership of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the support of our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr. Adil Karaismailoğlu, the coordination of the Ministry of Interior, AFAD Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, our organization TCDD Transportation and the contributions of non-governmental organizations. We hope that it will be a little balm for the wounds of the friendly and brotherly country Afghanistan. May our goodness trains be open. “He concluded.
Hamza Taşdelen, Vice President of AFAD, said in his speech:
“Physical distance is an illusion in this temporary world. Distances between hearts are not measurable units. Afghanistan, for which we meet today, is at a distance of heart for us. The common culture of Turkey and Afghanistan is not limited to Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who was born in Afghanistan. There are many poets among our common values.”
Taşdelen also underlined the vital importance of these aids, emphasizing that “27 million people in Afghanistan need support to live. About 19 million people are in urgent need of food. With the “Goodness Train Project” that we started in 2021 with the cooperation of TCDD General Directorate of Transportation and non-governmental organizations, a total of 14 trains have reached Afghanistan so far. Today, the 6th Group train departs. A thousand 3 aid will go with 500 separate trains. Thus, we will have brought 6 thousand 17 tons of aid to 7 million 135 thousand people with a total of 1 trains in 250 trips. " said.
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