Foreign aid arrives in COVID-19-stricken India
27 April, 2021
The first emergency medical supplies trickled into COVID-19-stricken India on Tuesday (Apr 27) within a worldwide campaign to staunch a catastrophic wave in the most recent pandemic hotspot, with the united states also pledging to export an incredible number of AstraZeneca vaccines.
India's infection and death rates are growing exponentially, overwhelming hospitals, as opposed to some wealthier Western nations that are starting to ease restrictions.
The virus has now killed over 3.1 million persons worldwide, with India driving the most recent surge in global case numbers, recording a lot more than 2,800 deaths on Monday.
Crates of ventilators and oxygen concentrators from the united kingdom were unloaded at a Delhi airport early Tuesday, the first shipment to reach in the united states to cope with the crisis.
"International cooperation at work," foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi tweeted alongside photographs of the crates.
Elsewhere in the administrative centre, AFP images showed COVID-19 victims burning on funeral pyres create in rows, the planet earth between them scorched by embers and littered with ash.
"So many persons are dying because they're unable to get the standard services," Vinod Kumar told AFP outside a Delhi hospital as he tried to get medication for a sick family member.
"This government has failed us so much."
"WE WILL BE THERE FOR THEM"
US President Joe Biden promised on Monday the united states would send up to 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine abroad.
The offer came with Washington under pressure to lift restrictions on exporting vaccine and vaccine supplies.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the recipient countries had not yet been decided and that the administration was still formulating its distribution plan.
But India were a respected contender after Biden spoke along with his counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Hindu-nationalist government is under fire for allowing mass gatherings such as for example religious festivals and political rallies in recent weeks.
"India was there for all of us, and we'll be there for them," Biden tweeted following the call with Modi.
Others also have rushed to pledge help.
Germany and Canada have promised support, while France said it will send eight oxygen production units and oxygen containers and respirators to India.
The World Health Organization chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Monday described the situation in India as "beyond heartbreaking".
"Who's doing everything we are able to, providing critical equipment and supplies," Tedros said.
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