Turkish Red Crescent celebrates 158th anniversary with national awards ceremony

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) 158th‑year celebration at the Beştepe Congress and Culture Center, where he praised the organisation’s historic humanitarian work from the Ottoman era to contemporary disaster relief. He presented awards to individuals, institutions and companies for their contributions to the Red Crescent’s mission, underscoring the values of solidarity, compassion and service.

Erzurum City Council President Hüseyin Tanfer also issued a congratulatory message, highlighting Kızılay’s role as a “bridge of goodwill” in times of war, natural disaster and social need. Tanfer noted the organisation’s continued relevance in providing shelter, food, medical aid and spiritual support during recent earthquakes, floods and landslides, both within Turkey and abroad.