Türkiye delivered 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Venezuela on Monday, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the country's reconstruction after last month's devastating earthquakes.
The aid arrived aboard two Turkish military cargo aircraft at Simón Bolívar International Airport, where it was received by Naci Aydan Karamanoğlu, Türkiye's ambassador to Venezuela, and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil.
The shipment included 275 tents provided by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), along with seven tonnes of medicines and medical supplies.
The aircraft also returned Turkish search-and-rescue personnel who had spent two weeks assisting rescue operations after back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela late last month.
Speaking at a reception ceremony, Karamanoğlu praised the work of AFAD, the Turkish Armed Forces Humanitarian Aid Brigade, Türkiye's National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE), and the Turkish Red Crescent.
"Venezuelan authorities and the Venezuelan people speak highly of our teams' work," he told reporters. "News reports highlight how professionally and selflessly the Turkish teams carried out their mission."
Karamanoğlu also recalled that Venezuela had dispatched its own rescue teams after south-eastern Türkiye was rocked by two massive earthquakes that claimed tens of thousands of lives in 2023.
"They demonstrated great courage and dedication by standing alongside our people," he said. "We will continue our assistance, and Türkiye will remain by the side of the friendly people of Venezuela."
Gil, for his part, thanked Türkiye for what he described as its "swift solidarity" following the disaster.
"Türkiye was among the first countries to extend a helping hand," he said, expressing gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his government and the Turkish people.
The arrival of the latest humanitarian shipment, he added, marked the beginning of Venezuela's reconstruction phase following the emergency rescue efforts.
On June 24, Venezuela was struck by two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The UN Development Programme has estimated that the twin earthquakes caused approximately $6.7 billion in material damage.
Search-and-rescue operations remain under way amid concerns that the death toll, which currently stands at around 4,490, may continue to rise.
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