A Greek Air Force plane arrived in Zagreb late on Wednesday carrying humanitarian aid for the earthquake-affected areas in central Croatia, the Croatian Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.

The shipment included 40 tents, 50 electric heaters, 500 folding beds and 500 sleeping bags.

The plane was welcomed by Zdravko Jakop, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence; Antonia Katzourou, Greek Ambassador; Terezija Gras, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior; and Brigadier General Michael Krizanec, Commander of the Croatian Air Force.

Jakop thanked the Greek ambassador for her country’s generous assistance “in these unpredictable and challenging times”.

Katzourou said that the relief shipment was just a small token of solidarity with the people struck by the disaster. She expressed hope that it would help and provide at least some comfort to people in the affected areas.

Greece’s aid shipment came as part of a response from EU member states after Croatia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on December 29 requesting emergency aid in the form of equipment such as winter tents, torches, electric heaters, folding beds, sleeping bags and residential containers.

Thirteen EU countries and Turkey responded to Croatia’s call. Aid was offered by Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.