Turkey sent aid to at least 57 countries to fight virus

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has so far delivered aid to at least 57 countries around the globe to help their fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

"We provided medical equipment support to 57 countries," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday.

While fighting the virus domestically with weekend lockdowns, quarantines and social isolation, Turkey continues to supply medical aid to many countries.

After getting aid requests from over 100 nations, Turkey has sent aid, medical supplies, and protective equipment to five continents, including countries badly hit by the virus, such as the UK, Italy, and Spain.

To support the efforts against the pandemic, Turkey delivered medical aid to Germany, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, as well as Balkan states such as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Kosovo, as well as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Among others, Turkey also sent medical supplies to the US, Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Not neglecting Africa, Turkey also delivered aid to Sudan, Guinea, Somalia, Uganda, Lesotho, and Mozambique.

The aid packages include such items as testing kits, medical masks, protective overalls, gloves, and disinfectants.

Last week, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko thanked his Turkish counterpart Fahrettin Koca for medical supplies purchased from Turkey.

On April 13, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had delivered assistance to dozens of countries to help them fight the pandemic, adding that this support will continue in the days to come.

Citing the saying, "If you can feel pain, you’re alive, if you can feel the pain of others, you’re human," Erdogan said his country shares what it has with all friends.

Earlier this month WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge thanked Turkey for helping many countries and showing "international solidarity" during the pandemic.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has spread to at least 185 countries and regions across the world. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed more than 207,400 people, with total infections nearing to 3 million, while over 875,400 have recovered from the disease, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.