Turkish Red Crescent expands automated meal services in Bitlis and Sivas

The Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay) is utilizing an automated soup kitchen system to provide hot meals to vulnerable populations in Bitlis and Sivas.

In Bitlis, the branch uses an automation system to deliver hot meals six days a week to approximately 800 people across 150 households in Bitlis center and the Tatvan district. This digital system, which was first piloted in Ankara in 2024, allows for the tracking of distribution processes and ensures transparency by recording which families receive specific meals. The initiative is conducted in cooperation with the Bitlis Municipality, the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation, and the Tatvan District Governor's Office.

In Sivas, the Red Crescent branch currently provides daily hot meals to 50 people, with plans to expand capacity to 600 individuals. This expansion will be facilitated through a protocol with the Provincial Directorate of Social Services. The program targets low-income families, specifically those with a per capita income below 6,000 lira, as well as elderly individuals living alone. The service includes home delivery seven days a week, providing three hot meals daily and additional breakfast portions on weekends.