Global assistance pours in as COVID-19 batters India

NEW DELHI

The first emergency medical supplies arrived in India on Tuesday as the country's infection and death rates continue to grow exponentially, overwhelming hospitals.

UK's first medical shipment with 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen concentrators reached New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Many countries have promised to rush supplies to India. A White House statement said the US "is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics."

French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain said France will deliver to India “not only immediate relief but also long-term capacities.”

The EU, China, Turkey, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran and Saudi Arabia have also extended support.

Neighboring Bhutan too is sending medical oxygen. “Bhutan to supply liquid oxygen to Assam from a new plant being set up at the Motanga Industrial Estate, Samdrup Jongkhar,” the Indian Embassy in Bhutan said.

Political commentators in India have welcomed the global support. “It is a positive step ... one of the problems that the world has seen in the pandemic is that there are few countries willing to help others,” Manoj Joshi, a political commentator and journalist, told Anadolu Agency.

“The US could have taken the lead last year, but it didn't and also mishandled the pandemic spread back home. It's good it is now willing to help others.”

India has been registering over 300,000 daily COVID-19 cases since April 22, leading to shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds and life-saving drugs.

With 323,144 new cases in the last 24 hours, the overall caseload in the country of over a billion people has reached 17.6 million. The death toll stands at 197,894, including 2,771 new fatalities.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described the situation in India as "beyond heartbreaking."

While many nations have closed borders to travelers from India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under fire for allowing mass political and religious gatherings in recent weeks.