Teams from Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality visited 600 older residents in need, previously identified through fieldwork, at their homes ahead of Eid al-Fitr and delivered holiday care packages.

The Department of Disability and Older People’s Services has stepped up its social responsibility efforts due to Eid al-Fitr. Teams visited 600 older residents in need who had been identified in advance through fieldwork, bringing the Metropolitan Municipality’s spirit of solidarity into their homes.

During the visits, residents’ requests were also heard in order to provide better and more effective services.

Each household received a holiday package containing traditional festive items such as cologne, coffee and sweets.

Providing information about the work, Diyar Oğuzsoy, Head of the Older People and Disability Services Branch, said that as part of the municipality’s social support activities, holiday packages had been delivered to 600 residents listed in their database and already receiving personal care, house cleaning and healthcare services.

“Our aim is to make them feel that we are by their side”

Emphasising that the main purpose of the visits was to speak to the spiritual meaning of the holiday, Oğuzsoy said: “Through these visits, we also aim to let them feel that we stand by them in the spirit of solidarity.”

“We share in their excitement for the holiday”

Oğuzsoy noted that, with the holiday approaching, they were trying to share in older residents’ excitement, while also helping to foster a culture of togetherness.

“We also listen to their requests and suggestions”

Stating that the packages had been prepared in keeping with the traditional spirit of the holiday, Oğuzsoy said: “We offer residents Turkish delight, sweets, coffee and cologne. We are focusing in particular on older people living alone. As part of these visits, we also note their problems, complaints and requests from the municipality, and shape our work accordingly.”