The number of EU Member States providing assistance to India through the Civil Protection Mechanism had risen to 15 by Monday 3 May, in response to a request for assistance from this non-Member State facing an outbreak of Covid-19.
The European Commission announced on Monday that the Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany had joined the ranks of the 10 other EU countries that have already made medical supplies available, with the EU coordinating the delivery and co-financing the transport costs (see EUROPE 12709/31).
The Czech Republic donated 500 oxygen cylinders, Denmark 53 ventilators, Spain 119 oxygen concentrators and 145 ventilators.
The Netherlands provided 100 oxygen concentrators, 449 respirators and 30,000 vials of the antiviral drug Remdesivir (a drug not recommended by the WHO for the treatment of Covid-19, as it is not effective and has potentially serious adverse effects).
Germany donated 15,000 vials of anti-viral drugs, 516 respirators and an oxygen generator.
In a statement, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said he was “proud to say EU Member States are providing substantial help part of a ‘Team Europe’ effort to show our solidarity with India”.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the central body of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, is monitoring the situation closely. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)