Radio Islam News and Agencies | 17 October 2017

A Turkish military plane carrying 35 people wounded in a massive truck explosion in Somalia arrived in Turkey late Monday. The plane also brought 34 people to accompany the victims.

The airlift was part of the Turkish government’s extraordinary efforts to assist the country that is reeling from its deadliest single attack, as well as recovering from decades of conflict and instability.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Turkey’s deputy prime minister Recep Akdag said that the patients, of whom 13 were heavily injured, would be transferred to Polatli, Numune and Gulhane hospitals.

The airlifted victims included 3 children.

The deputy PM added that currently 33 staff members of the Turkish Health Ministry were in Somalia and more patients could be transferred to Turkey if necessary.

Earlier, Turkey’s Health Minister Ahmet Demircan arrived in the Somali capital to oversee Turkish assistance accompanied by 33 staff, including a medical team specializing in emergency services, the Turkish Embassy said in a statement.

A Turkish aircraft loaded with medical aid and emergency services workers, including 13 workers from the Turkish Red Crescent and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, landed in Mogadishu on Monday morning.

Turkish officials also visited the injured at the Medina and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Hospitals in Mogadishu, facilities which are jointly run by the Turks and Somalis.

The Turkish humanitarian and medical aid was welcomed by the Somali government and people.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Monday said during a visit to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, that his government and Somali people would not forget Turkey’s help.

Somali lawmakers representing their country at the Pan African Parliament also lauded the Turkish government’s decision to airlift injured victims of Saturday’s terrorist attack.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences over Saturday’s attack in a phone conversation with Mohamed on Monday, a Turkish presidential source said.

Erdogan condemned the blast, and reaffirmed Turkey’s solidarity with the Somali people, and its support for Somalia in standing against terrorism. The Turkish president had on Sunday sent a written message of condolences to his Somali counterpart.

Turkey has officially stood with Somalia since at least 2011 when then Prime Minister and current President Tayyip Erdogan visited the country with his family during a devastating famine. Turkey has since provided infrastructural, humanitarian and medical assistance to the East Africa country, both through official and NGO channels.

Last month, Turkey launched its largest overseas military training academy in Somalia, which will help rebuild the Somali army by training them to secure their country.