Üsküdar Municipality in Istanbul city of Turkey launched a blood donation campaign, in which taxi drivers took the lead, in cooperation with the Red Crescent and Respect for Labor Platform. Hundreds of taxi drivers, who want to donate blood to give hope to people in need of blood in the most difficult times, came together and shut off engines of their cars in Harem Beach in Üsküdar. Taxi drivers formed long queues in front of the Red Crescent tent set up on the Harem beach and donated blood. Üsküdar Mayor Hilmi Türkmen, Zeynep Kamil Blood Donation Center Director Dr. Aylin Gençer and Üsküdar Red Crescent Vice President Ali Rıza Şenbabaoğlu attended to campaign and made statements.

During the donation campaign, Türkmen made statements about blood donation and stated that this donation is very important. “You are doing a favor to people you don’t know. In the most difficult moment, this blood becomes a medicine for them. You know that the only medicine in the world that cannot be produced is blood,” Türkmen said.