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Thirty tons of humanitarian aid sent from Türkiye arrived in Venezuela aboard two military cargo aircraft after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on June 24.
The shipment was received at the Simon Bolivar International Airport by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Venezuela Naci Aydan Karamanoglu and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.
The aid includes 275 large tents provided by Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), equipment needed to establish temporary tent camps, and nearly seven tons of medical supplies and medicines.
Speaking at the airport, Karamanoglu said Turkish institutions had made “great efforts” after the twin earthquakes and praised the dedication of Turkish search and rescue teams deployed in Venezuela for two weeks.
“Venezuelan authorities and the Venezuelan people speak highly of our teams’ work. This appreciation has also been reflected in the local media,” Karamanoglu said.
“News reports highlight how professionally and selflessly the Turkish teams carried out their mission,” he added.
Karamanoglu thanked the Turkish Armed Forces Humanitarian Aid Brigade, AFAD, the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE), and Turkish Red Crescent personnel for their work.
He also recalled that Venezuela sent search and rescue teams to Türkiye after the Feb. 6, 2023, Kahramanmaras-centered earthquakes, described as the “disaster of the century.”
“They truly demonstrated great courage and dedication by standing alongside our people,” Karamanoglu said.
“As of today, they have completed their mission, and we are sending them back home,” he added.
Karamanoglu said the two aircraft that arrived to bring Turkish teams back also delivered about 30 tons of humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
Karamanoglu said Türkiye had previously provided humanitarian assistance through AFAD, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), and the Turkish Red Crescent.
“With this shipment, we have added another contribution to our support,” he said.
“We will continue our assistance, and Türkiye will remain by the side of the friendly people of Venezuela,” he added.
The reception ceremony was also attended by Brig. Gen. Mehmet Bahtiyar, commander of the Turkish Armed Forces Humanitarian Aid Brigade, along with officials from AFAD and UMKE, were deployed to Venezuela after the earthquakes.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil thanked Türkiye for its solidarity, saying the support carried special significance for Venezuela.
“On behalf of Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, we extend our gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish government, the Turkish people, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Caracas Aydan Karamanoglu and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, with whom I have remained in constant contact since the first hours of the earthquake,” Gil said.
“Türkiye, as always, was among the first countries to extend a helping hand from the very beginning of the disaster,” he added.
Gil recalled that Acting President Rodriguez had awarded the “Heroes of Venezuela Medal” to search and rescue personnel.
“We thank the disaster response brigade that led this process and Türkiye’s finest, best-trained specialists who worked hand in hand with us during the search and rescue operations,” Gil said.
“We cannot find words to express our gratitude,” he added.
Gil said Venezuela was receiving another humanitarian aid shipment and that it was time to move to the reconstruction phase.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Venezuela was struck by two earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 just 39 seconds apart on June 24.
The U.N. Development Program said on June 26 that the earthquakes caused an estimated $6.7 billion in direct physical damage.
Search and rescue operations remain underway, with concerns that the death toll and number of injured could continue to rise.
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