German human rights commissioner visiting Turkey

ANKARA

The German Federal Government’s Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid Christoph Strasser is paying a five-day visit to Turkey.

Meeting with officials from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), Turkey’s disaster agency (AFAD) and members of the Turkish Parliament’s Human Rights commission covers Strasser’s schedule for Oct. 13, German Embassy officials told the Daily News on Oct. 12.

During his meeting with officials from AFAD, Strasser will be officially handing over 15 truckloads of humanitarian assistance destined to be sent to the southeastern Anatolian border province of Gaziantep. The commissioner will also be traveling to Gaziantep later in the week.

Strasser, speaking in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency over the weekend, voiced his government’s appreciation of Turkey’s aid to Syrian refugees.

“I’ve been deeply shaken by photographs from the clashes in Kobane and the grave misery of civilian people,” he was quoted as saying by the agency. “I believe we need to seriously strengthen our support in regard to the influx of refugees to Turkey through taking recent refugees from Kobane into consideration, too,” he added.