The Turkish Red Crescent is under fire for selling tents

According to Cumhuriyet newspaper, which shed light on the matter, the Turkish Red Crescent sold more than 2,000 tents to the NGO Ahbab. It cost about 2.3 million euros. On Sunday, the non-governmental organization confirmed that those tents had been moved and set up in the affected areas.

In turn, the head of the Turkish Red Crescent, Kerem Kenik, confirmed on Twitter that Kizilay Kadir, a subsidiary that produces tents, had provided shelters for loved ones at “cost price”. “The Red Crescent’s cooperation with loved ones is moral, reasonable and ethical,” Kinnick said.

“scandal”

This intervention did not stop the uproar in the media and social networks. Turkey’s largest charity was selling tents instead of distributing them for free to those who needed them, even though people were begging for them three days after the earthquake. Journalist Murat Agirel from Cumhuriyet said it was a scandal.

Many opposition politicians are calling for President Knick’s resignation. “Shame on you!” wrote the head of the Nationalist Party, Aye, on Twitter.

The Red Crescent works closely with the Turkish government, which has been accused of not sending enough tents, humanitarian aid and rescue workers in the days following the devastating earthquake. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said just this week that the Red Crescent’s critics were “dishonest and despicable”.