As a gesture of international solidarity to face the COVID-19 pandemic, a plane carrying more than 15 tons of medical supplies and equipment arrived on Friday, July 17, from Turkey to fight the sanitary crisis in Venezuela amid the U.S blockade and siege.
At the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, La Guaira State, Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza, on behalf of the Venezuelan government and people, thanked President Recep Tayip Erdogan and the Turkish people.
“We recognized today Turkey’s solidarity (…) Venezuela has relied on the support of great friends,” he said.
Arreaza explained that this flight was possible thanks to the effort made by Turkey, overcoming Venezuela’s difficulties to access markets due to the U.S. blockade and adding this shipment to the cooperation of allied countries such as the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Cuba and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The greatness of the peoples and nations in this historic time is not measured by their economic potential (…) It is measured by their solidarity-based capacity, and Turkey has set a great example,” stressed Arreaza.
The shipment, which will be handed over to the Ministry of People’s Power for Health, includes ventilators, PCR test kits, facemasks, biosecurity suits and gloves. In addition, the Turkish Agency of Cooperation and Coordination will set up incubators, phototherapy units, bilirubin meters, blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, thermometers, skin graft Mesher, dermatomes, defibrillators, hospital beds and baby scales.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Venezuela Şevki Mütevellioğlu stressed this is a symbol of the brotherhood between the two nations and highlighted that most of these supplies, including equipment to enhanced two hospitals, one in Macuto, La Guaira State, and one in Caracas, are manufactured by Turkey.
The Turkish diplomat pointed out that the plane will return Turkish nationals who were stranded in Venezuela due to the pandemic, and thanked Venezuela authorities for supporting these Turkish citizens during their stay in the South American country.
“I want to congratulate the Venezuelan government for their fight against coronavirus. Turkey will always be ready to assist Venezuela whenever it is necessary,” added the ambassador.
Minister of People’s Power for Health Carlos Alvarado said this shipment will strengthen care for COVID-19 patients, and explained that these medical supplies will be shipped “immediately to those states where most coronavirus cases have been registered.”
Alvarado pointed out that thanks to the international humanitarian cooperation, Venezuela has received more than 1,000 tons of supplies and equipment to fight the sanitary emergency.
“This proves Venezuela is not alone, and despite the blockade, President Maduro and his staff are making huge efforts to guarantee medical care for patients,” he said.