Caracas, June 9 (RHC)-- Venezuela has announced that a flight carrying humanitarian aid for the epidemic had arrived from Iran, amid the brutal sanctions imposed on the country by the U.S. aimed at forcing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

“Right now, what we are receiving is different types of testing kits,” Planning Minister Ricardo Menendez said on state television, standing on a runway at the country’s Maiquetia airport near boxes piled on pallets.

“Today, we are seeing the arrival of these materials to strengthen Venezuela in its fight against the coronavirus,” said Iran’s Ambassador to Caracas Hojjatollah Soltani.  Health experts say Venezuela faces a high risk from the pandemic due to a broad economic collapse that has severely weakened public hospitals and undermined public services, including electricity and running water.