Arab countries pledge aid as Tunisia’s medical system struggles to cope with rising infections
Several countries have promised to help Tunisia fight the coronavirus as the north African country recorded its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began.
President Kais Saied on Friday said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had pledged to send vaccines and whatever medical equipment Tunisia needed.
Libya also pledged to send medical aid, the president’s office said in a separate statement.
Officials and local media said that Kuwait, Turkey and Algeria promised to help as Tunisia’s healthcare system buckles under severe stress and depleting oxygen supplies.
Qatar had already sent a military plane with a field hospital on board, including 200 medics and 100 respirators.
Egypt soon followed with planeloads of assistance.
“Two Egyptian military planes arrived on Saturday at the military base in El Aouina, carrying various medical equipment, quantities of medicines, breathing monitoring machines and oxygen concentrators,” the Tunisian presidency’s office said.
“It reflects the deep and solid relations between Tunisia and Egypt, as well as the values of solidarity that exist between the two brotherly countries and peoples.”
After successfully containing the virus in the first wave last year, Tunisia is now grappling with a rise in infections.
Government scientific advisers had proposed a six-week national lockdown to stop hospitals from being overwhelmed, but the state decided the economy could not sustain more damage.
That decision was partially amended last week when the government imposed a lockdown in some cities, measures that still fell short of what scientists recommended.
Further lockdowns would risk piling on more damage to the vital tourism sector, which has already witnessed catastrophic losses since the start of the global health emergency.
Tunisia recorded 189 deaths on Friday, the highest daily toll since the pandemic began last year.
It also reported 8,500 new coronavirus cases.
“We are in a catastrophic situation ... the health system has collapsed, we can only find a bed in hospitals with great difficulty,” said Health Ministry spokeswoman Nissaf Ben Alaya.
“We are struggling to provide oxygen ... doctors are suffering from unprecedented fatigue,” she said. “The boat is sinking.”
The total number of coronavirus cases so far in Tunisia has climbed to about 491,000, with more than 16,200 deaths.
Vaccinations lag far behind other countries. So far, only 715,000 people have received two doses out of 11.6 million residents.
The president’s office said last week that the US pledged to donate 500,000 vaccination doses.
So far, only 715,000 people have received two doses of a vaccine, out of Tunisia’s 11.6 million residents