Turkey Sent Aid to at least 57 Countries to Fight Virus

Turkey has thus far delivered aid to a minimum of 57 countries around the globe to assist their fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Turkey, as a nation that has made a reputation for itself within the last decade with its humanitarian efforts, has already become a prominent figure of this new statecraft by sending medical care packages to several corners of the world every other day.

“We provided medical equipment support to 57 countries,” Turkish secretary of state Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday.

While fighting the virus domestically with weekend lockdowns, quarantines, and social isolation, Turkey continues to provide medical care to several countries. After getting aid requests from over 100 nations, Turkey has sent aid, medical supplies, and protective equipment to 5 continents, including countries badly hit by the virus, like the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain.

To support the efforts against the pandemic, Turkey delivered medical care to Germany, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Turkey also supported Balkan states like 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.

Palestine, which is under siege by Israel, and Colombia also received humanitarian aid from Turkey last week. In some countries, like Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Uganda, and Hungary, Turkey began to produce masks with local resources rather than sending aid.

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. All equipment was produced at military-owned factories and at sewing workshops that provide military uniforms and other clothing for the military.

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 nations to assist them in fighting the pandemic, adding that this support will continue within the days to return.

Citing the old saying, “If you feel pain, you’re alive, if you’ll feel the pain of others, you’re human,” Erdogan said his country shares what it’s 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.

Turkey’s health ministry data showed on Monday that confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased by 2,131 within the past 24 hours, bringing its total to quite 112,000. The price stood at 2,900, with 95 new fatalities registered, while quite 4,650 recoveries were recorded, bringing the entire to 33,791.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said a three-day lockdown would be imposed in 31 cities as of Friday, and similar weekend restrictions would continue until after the Eid al-Fitr holiday in late May.

On April 28, 2020, a minimum of 210,225 people globally have died from COVID-19, and 3,033,325 are infected by the novel coronavirus that causes it, following an epidemic that started in Wuhan, China, in early December. Health organizations around the planet mentioned it as an epidemic on March 11, 2020. Though the outbreak began in China, it’s now reached 216 countries and territories. 175 of these have reported fatalities.