Coronavirus Crisis

UK sends urgent oxygen supplies to fight pandemic ravaging India

BRITAIN is to send emergency supplies of oxygen, ventilators and drugs to help India fight its rapidly escalating Covid crisis.

Boris Johnson said yesterday the UK had answered India’s plea for help and efforts were under way to identify more medical supplies that could be sent.

India recorded 349,691 new cases and 2,767 deaths in the last 24 hours – the highest since the pandemic began. It is facing severe oxygen shortages and harrowing images show patients turned away from hospitals being treated in the streets. Burial grounds in the capital, New Delhi, are running out of space and glowing funeral pyres light up the night sky in other badly hit cities.

Nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators will be sent to India this week from the UK. Mr Johnson said yesterday: ‘We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time.

‘Vital medical equipment is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.’ The supplies have been drawn from surplus stocks.

The US, France and Germany confirmed they would send aid. The US said it would provide raw materials for vaccines that were previously restricted under export controls.

The EU said it planned to send oxygen and medicine.

India’s neighbour Pakistan – which has tense relations with Delhi – offered medical equipment and supplies.

A failure to restrict mass gatherings for Hindu religious festivals or elections may have led to the surge, according to critics, along with weddings and sporting events.