In Turkey, Circassians get from authorities help for Dagestan to fight against COVID-19

After an appeal from Circassian activists, Turkey sent to Dagestan items of personal protective equipment, medicines, and five mechanical ventilation devices.

On May 22, the "Caucasian Knot" SMS service got a message reporting that Turkey sent medical assistance to combat the coronavirus infection in Dagestan. "The parcel was prepared through the Turkish Red Crescent Society. The parcel contains items of personal protective equipment and mechanical ventilation devices worth 2.6 million Turkish liras," wrote an author of the message.

It took only a week to consider the issue of providing assistance to Dagestan, reported Khachibairam Bolat, the leader of the "Federation of Circassian Organizations" in Turkey. According to him, on May 22, a truck with various items of personal protective equipment, medicines, and five mechanical ventilation devices left Turkey for Dagestan.

"When Dagestan already faced an acute and difficult situation because of the spread of the coronavirus infection and there were calls for help addressed to various institutions, we, as the 'Federation of Circassian Organizations', decided to appeal to the Turkish presidential administration with a request to provide humanitarian support to Dagestan. We directly contacted the adviser and speaker of the Turkish president, and we explained what exactly Dagestan needed. The Turkish top-ranking official immediately began to work under the issue. He helped us contact the Turkish Red Crescent Society, engaged in charity, and the Ministry for Public Health of Turkey. Protective suits, masks, gloves, and other items of humanitarian aid were provided by those two institutions," Khachibairam Bolat told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 25, 2020 at 06:40 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.