Kebab man sets off to Syria on 'mercy mission'
A KEBAB van owner from Bristol has set off on a "one-man mercy mission" to Syria.
Sakir Yildirim is driving an ambulance he bought and collected in Germany, going across Europe to the war-ridden Asian country, collecting medical supplies along the way.
Mr Yildirim has provided similar aid to Gaza in Palestine and Turkey.
In 2009, Mr Yildirim drove an ambulance from Bristol across France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey to the Gaza Strip.
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He was also on board a Turkish aid flotilla when it was stormed by Israeli commandos in 2010.
Mr Yildirim, from Fishponds, raised money for his latest trip by collecting donations from friends, family, mosques and charities.
He also wanted to buy toys for Syrian children.
On his arrival in Syria, he said he will donate the ambulance to a local hospital.
Making light of the thousands of miles he is driving, he described going to Syria as "only round the corner" when compared to Gaza.
"I'm a human being and all you've got to do is think what if that was you on the other side needing help," he said. "I want to help people."
Comments
by A_Mushroom
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 12:37PM
“If you accept that he has a genuine desire to help, I guess that actually going there satisfies his need to feel like he really is helping. Probably moreso than if he stayed at home and sent supplies through aid agencies, even if that is a more cost effective and efficient way of providing help.”
by Marshwalker99
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 12:29PM
“Please ignore these publicity seeking fiends. The real angle of this story is that he has got gullible people to pay for him to have a holiday. I'd love to go on a touring holiday all the way to the middle east and back, but I am not deceitful enough to use an inconsequential charitable deed as cover for extracting money from good people and good causes in order to have them pay for my trip.
Morons.”