Japan, Canada, others rush Covid aid to India
The Centre said Sunday a whopping 6,738 oxygen concentrators, 3,856 cylinders, 16 oxygen generation plants, 4,668 ventilators and about three lakh vials of anti-Covid drug Remdesivir were delivered to India so far from abroad, adding it was swiftly allocating/distributing the supplies.
More foreign aid continued to pour in from Britain, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Kuwait, China and other nations.
The Union government on Sunday said a whopping 6,738 oxygen concentrators, 3,856 oxygen cylinders, 16 oxygen generation plants, 4,668 ventilators and about three lakh vials of anti-Covid drug Remdesivir have been delivered to the country so far from abroad, adding that it was promptly allocating and distributing the supplies. This comes even as foreign aid continued to pour in from Britain, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Kuwait, China and other nations.
Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong tweeted on Sunday evening, “The first batch of 100 Oxygen concentrators, 40 ventilators, and other antiepidemic supplies donated by the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) arrived in India today by a Chinese cargo flight from Chengdu. RCSC also decided to provide $1 million in cash assistance to the Indian Red Cross Society through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help India fight against Covid-19.” The Chinese envoy added, “Nothing in the world is more precious than people's lives. Actions of RCSC shine the humanitarian spirit... ”.
Meanwhile, SpiceXpress, the air cargo arm of airline SpiceJet, said it had airlifted 9,600 oxygen concentrators from Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing and Hong Kong to Kolkata and Delhi on Sunday. The airline said it has airlifted more than 27,000 oxygen concentrators from the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore and
SPICEXPRESS SAID it had airlifted 9,600 oxygen concentrators from Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing and Hong Kong to Kolkata and Delhi
China so far. On British support, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, “Taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Consignment of 3 O2 generators & 1,000 ventilators arrives from UK. Each generator has capacity to produce 500 litres of O2/min, enough to treat 50 people at a time. Deeply value the contribution from our close friend.”
Earlier on Saturday, 100 oxygen concentrators were sent by Japan as a part of the first batch of the emergency assistance to India. Japan is providing India with 300 oxygen concentrators and 300 ventilators and announced it will continue to extend further support.
Canada also announced that it is sending up to 25,000 vials of the antiviral drug remdesivir (brand name Veklury) and up to 350 ventilators from its National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to help respond to the critical situation across India. Canada is also providing support through UNICEF’s response to the pandemic in India with the urgent provision of 1,450 oxygen concentrators. This support is in “addition to Canada’s $10-million support to the Canadian Red Cross Society, which is supporting the Indian Red Cross Society’s procurement of essential supplies and medicines”.