Turkey sent the United States an array of personal protective equipment to help “alleviate the enormous burden” put on healthcare workers.
The plane laden with the medical goods arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday. It contained 500,000 surgical masks, 1,500 goggles, 400 N95 masks, 500 face shields, and protective coveralls, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We hope that this aid will help alleviate the enormous burden shouldered by the devoted health workers in the United States, who work day and night to save lives of the others at the expense of risking their own life,” said Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic, who met the plane along with Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.
Kilic said the shipment was sent on orders from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and “testifies to the Turkish people’s will to support our longstanding ally, United States, in its ongoing, difficult fight against COVID-19.”
Reeker pointed out the relationship between the two countries and said the cargo shipment was an “important demonstration of NATO unity and the strength of U.S.-Turkey ties and our strong historic relationship.”
“Thank you for this generous gift to the United States,” Reeker said on behalf of the U.S. government.
Today, a Turkish military plane landed at @Andrews_JBA to deliver aid sent by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey on behalf of the Turkish people to support our ally in its fight against COVID19.Turkey stands in solidarity with its Allies in this fight #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/xUYq0Oammh
— Serdar KILIÇ (@serdarkilic9) April 28, 2020
