UK sending 'vital medical equipment' to India to aid Covid fight

London will ship more than 600 pieces of equipment to New Delhi to support its fight against the virus

The British Government on Sunday responded to New Delhi’s request and sent ventilators and oxygen concentrators to help deal with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

The European Union is also pooling resources to respond rapidly to India’s request for assistance to deal with situation.

The first shipment of vital medical equipment from United Kingdom are expected to reach India on Tuesday, with further shipments expected to arrive a few days later. The British Government committed to provide New Delhi more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment for India to support the country in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the British Government announced

The British High Commission in New Delhi stated that the UK Government would send nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, to India.

The UK is working closely with the Government of India to identify further assistance it can provide in the coming days. “We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against Covid-19,” the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.”

Also read: Germany preparing 'mission of support' for India: German Chancellor Merkel

“We have all got to work together to tackle Covid-19. India is a very important partner to us, so we’re providing oxygen concentrators and ventilators to help save the lives of the most vulnerable. We will be following up on this first delivery with further support, based on our ongoing discussions with the Indian Government,” the Foreign Secretary of the UK said.

The EU also responded to the request from the Government of India.

“Alarmed by the epidemiological situation in India. We are ready to support. The EU is pooling resources to respond rapidly to India’s request for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. We stand in full solidarity with the Indian people,” Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission’s President, tweeted.