Greece sends earthquake aid to Turkey, putting aside rivalry

Aid material, provided by the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection, is loaded on a plane, following the deadly earthquake in Turkey, at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport of Athens, Greece, February 9, 2023. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece sent thousands of tents, beds and blankets on Thursday to help the hundreds of thousands of people left homeless by deadly earthquakes in Turkey, in an act of solidarity with a neighbour that is a NATO ally but also a historic foe.

Greece plans to provide a total of 80 tonnes of assistance such as blankets, beds, tents and medical supplies, its civil protection ministry said. Commercial flights carrying boxes with part of the aid landed at the Turkish airport of Adana early on Thursday, with the operation expected to conclude by Friday.