ISTANBUL: Turkey sent medical supplies such as masks to Italy and Spain on Wednesday, the two European countries hardest affected by the novel coronavirus, the ministry of defence said.
“Health supplies prepared to fight COVID-19 together, and with the hopes of seeing brighter days were sent en route to Spain and Italy by a military plane,” the ministry tweeted in English.
An accompanying video clip showed a cargo plane of the Turkish military A-400 M preparing to take off.
The defence ministry posted the same message in Turkish, Spanish and Italian.
The materials, including helmets, overalls and antibacterial fluids, were manufactured in the factories and sewing facilities of the defense ministry.
Local resources were being sent “on President’s orders” Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the statement from the ministry said.
According to an AFP count at 0700 GMT Wednesday using official estimates, the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 30,000 people in Europe, more than three quarters of the deaths reported in Italy and Spain.
Most deaths were reported in Italy, with 12,428 fatalities, followed by 8,189 in Spain and 3,523 in France.
Turkey has reported 214 fatalities and 13,531 cases so far.
