KHARTOUM, Sudan 

Sudan on Saturday received medical supplies Turkey donated to contribute to the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus.

An aircraft carrying the medical supplies sent to Sudan by the Turkish Red Crescent arrived in the capital Khartoum.

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Turkey sends medical aid to Sudan

KHARTOUM, SUDAN - AUGUST 22: Plane belonging to Turkish Airlines carrying medical aid packages sent by Turkey to support Sudan in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic arrives at Khartoum International Airport in Khartoum, Sudan on August 22, 2020. ( Mahmoud Hjaj - Anadolu Agency )

Irfan Neziroglu, Turkey's ambassador to Khartoum and Sudanese officials welcomed the donations at the airport.

Neziroglu told Anadolu Agency that the shipment included 1,236 packages of health products, including masks, ventilators and protective suits.

Afaf Shakir, an official from Sudan's Health Ministry, thanked Turkey and its people form the donation.

Turkey has sent medical aid to over 150 countries and six international organizations to help them combat the coronavirus pandemic, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Aug. 9.

Sudan has so far reported 12,623 coronavirus cases, 6,476 recoveries and 812 fatalities, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The global pandemic has claimed over 801,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since it originated in Wuhan, China last December.

The US, Brazil, Russia and India are currently the worst-hit countries in the world.

More than 23 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 14.7 million, shows Johns Hopkins' data.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar