Turkish aid agency renovates schools in Pakistan, undertakes historic mosque restoration in Ethiopia

Türkiye’s state-run aid agency TIKA has renovated primary and secondary schools in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi.

TIKA carried out the renovation work in two schools, whose capacities are now increased to nearly 500 students through the construction of additional floors, reconstruction of old buildings as well as the provision of school furniture.

The Turkish aid agency will also undertake a further restoration of the Al Nejashi mosque, which suffered damage during the approximately two-year internal conflict in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region.

The historic mosque, built around the year 615, suffered severe damage during the internal conflict that began in November 2020 in the northern part of the country.

Located in the town of Wukro, 790 kilometers (over 490 miles) north of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Al-Nejashi is said to be the first mosque in Africa.

It is named after Nejashi, ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum, who hosted companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, who escaped persecution in Mecca.