A shipment of urgently needed oxygen, medicine, and equipment will be delivered over the coming days by the EU Member States to India, following the country’s request for support through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which is coordinated by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission.
The offers of support from the EU Member States via the Mechanism currently include:
- Ireland: 700 oxygen concentrators, 1 oxygen generator, 365 ventilators
- Belgium: 9,000 doses of antiviral medicines Remdesivir
- Romania: 80 oxygen concentrators and 75 oxygen cylinders
- Luxembourg: 58 ventilators
- Portugal: 5,503 vials of Remdesivir; 20,000 liters of oxygen per week
- Sweden: 120 ventilators.
This support has been made in line with the coordinated effort by the EU Member States currently underway to pool their resources in responding rapidly to tackle the alarming epidemiological situation in India.
More EU support from the other Member States is expected to be given in the coming days, including from France and Germany.
“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,” said Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management.
