COVID-19: Turkey to send medical aid to Venezuela

By Duygu Yener

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Thursday signed an agreement to send medical supplies to Venezuela as part of efforts against the novel coronavirus.

An agreement to grant protective equipment and mechanical ventilators was signed in the capital Ankara by Deputy Health Minister Emine Alp Mese and Venezuelan Ambassador Jose Gregorio Bracho Reyes, according to information obtained by Anadolu Agency correspondent.

Mese said Turkey will be pleased to share its experience and knowledge it gained during the pandemic with Venezuelan scientists and ministry officials.

Reyes thanked Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the support, adding that Venezuela is ready to sign agreements with Turkey in all areas of health sector.

Turkey has helped at least 125 countries with humanitarian aid during the outbreak, including the US, UK, Italy and Spain, making it the world's third-largest provider of aid during the pandemic.

The pandemic has killed more than 418,000 people worldwide, with nearly 7.44 million confirmed cases and over 3.5 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur.