Turkey sends first cargo vessel with aid to Qatar

Istanbul, June 22: Turkey on Thursday sent a first ship loaded with aid for its embattled regional ally Qatar, which has been hit by sanctions from Gulf powers led by Saudi Arabia, state media said.

Almost two dozen Turkish troops also arrived in Qatar as Ankara ramps up military support for Doha, even as it tries not to irritate Riyadh. Turkey has already sent over 100 planes with food and other aid for Qatar, but this is the first time a cargo ship has embarked on the voyage to Doha.

The ship left the Aegean port of Aliaga in Izmir province with around 4,000 tonnes of fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs on board, the Anadolu news agency said. It should arrive in 10 days. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain broke off relations with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting “terrorism” and leaving Doha economically and politically isolated.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately vowed to support Qatar and vehemently rejected the accusations that Qatar supports terrorism.

Economy minister Nihat Zeybekci said Turkey had already sent 105 cargo flights to Qatar loaded with aid to help the country through the crisis.

A bill was also fasttracked through the Turkish parliament allowing Ankara to send up to several thousand troops to a base in Qatar. A contingent of 23 soldiers and five armoured vehicles arrived in Qatar on Thursday.