Modi offers Saarc fund for fighting coronavirus
To contribute $10 million; offers test kits, doctors
Urging the neighbouring countries to come together to fight challenges from novel coronavirus (Covid19), India on Sunday offered to set up a ‘Covid19 Emergency Fund’ for the benefit of Saarc nations with an initial contribution of $10 million which could be used by any of the member-state for its urgent requirements.
“This could be based on voluntary contributions from all of us. India can start with an initial offer of $10 million for this fund,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a video conference of the Saarc leaders. Mr Modi said the foreign secretaries of the Saarc countries could coordinate through their embassies on the utilisation of this fund.
The video conference was attended by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Bangladesh
PM Sheikh Hasina, and Bhutan PM Dr Lotay Tshering.
Pakistan was represented by its health minister Dr Zafar Mirza, who used the opportunity to raise the lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Mirza said that all restrictions should be lifted in J&K as “dissemination of information is essential” to deal with Covid-19 threat.
Mr Modi offered to place the Rapid Response Task Force that India is creating and testing kits at the disposal of Saarc members. Mr Modi also offered provide online training to health personnel of Saarc member states, and create a common platform to coordinate research on controlling epidemic diseases within the region.
While urging the Saarc nations to come together to respond to Covid-19 and have “collaboration not confusion” and “preparation” instead of “panic”, Mr Modi suggested joint deliberations among experts of the Saarc countries on the economic consequences of the Covid-19, an issue that was raised by the leaders of Maldives, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The Prime
Minister said that some countries have made specific requests with regard to medicines and equipments which the Indian government will provide. He added that the officials of the Saarc nations should maintain close contact and develop a common strategy while urging leaders to identify nodal experts in their countries who can have a similar video-conference one week later to follow up on the discussions held on Sunday.