As the Covid cases on the rise in India, the European Union has decided to ship urgently needed oxygen, medical equipment …reports Kaliph Anaz from Brussels
The European Commission has said that a shipment of urgently needed oxygen, medicine and equipment will be delivered over the coming days by EU Member States to India.
According to an official statement, Ireland will send 700 oxygen concentrators; 1 oxygen generator; 365 ventilators; Belgium will send 9,000 doses of antiviral medicines Remdesivir; Romania is to send 80 oxygen concentrators and 75 oxygen cylinders; Luxembourg will send 58 ventilators; Portugal is to send 5,503 vials of Remdesivir; 20,000 litres of oxygen per week, and Sweden will send 120 ventilators.
This comes as upon India’s request for support through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which is coordinated by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission.
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Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “The EU stands in full solidarity with the Indian people and is ready to do our utmost to support them at this critical time. I would like to thank our Member States that came in numerously with generous offers of help, showing that the EU is a trusted partner and a friend at times of need. The reach of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism goes well beyond the EU’s borders. Our Emergency Response Coordination Centre is facilitating the logistical arrangements and the EU will cover the brunt of the transport costs.”
“This support has been made in line with the coordinated effort by EU Member States currently underway to pool their resources in responding rapidly to tackle the alarming epidemiological situation in India,” the statement read.
More EU support from other Member States is expected to be given in the coming days, including from France and Germany.
The objective of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is to strengthen cooperation between the EU Member States and 6 Participating States in the field of civil protection.