Coronavirus response: Turkey delivers critical aid to Iraq
On 30 June 2020, as part of Allied support in response to COVID-19, Turkey delivered critical medical supplies to the Iraqi people as a sign of solidarity between two neighbouring countries.
The delivery consisted of various medicines, ventilators, testing kits, N95 masks, among others and was transported by an A400 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force. It follows a request for support from Iraq through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).
The EADRCC is NATO’s main civil emergency response mechanism. The Centre operates on a 24/7 basis, coordinating requests and offers of assistance. Since the start of the crisis, it has coordinated requests from 16 NATO and partner countries, as well as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), resulting in dozens of offers of assistance. To date, Iraq has also received medical assistance from Poland, following a request for support through the EADRCC.
NATO launched its current Mission in Iraq in 2018, at the request of Iraq and following a decision by NATO leaders at the Brussels Summit. The NATO Mission in Iraq is a non-combat advising, training and capacity-building mission, conducted with full respect of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It involves trainers, advisors and supporting personnel from Allied and partner countries, including Australia, Sweden and Finland. This Mission builds upon the achievements to date of the partnership between NATO and Iraq.
NATO’s continued efforts in Iraq were also highlighted at the recent meetings of NATO Defence Ministers held via video-conference on 17 and 18 June 2020.