Bozkir has expressed concerns over drastic rise in Covid cases and the deteriorating situation in India …reports Asian Lite News
The president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, on Tuesday called for international aid to India in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, said his spokesman.
Bozkir was worried about the Covid-19 situation in India, a country that has done so much to ensure the distribution of vaccines to vulnerable countries, said Brenden Varma, the spokesman, Xinhua news agency reported.
I’m worried about the #COVID19 situation in India, a country which did so much to ensure #Vaccines4All in vulnerable countries. It’s time for the world to extend aid & support to India. No one’s safe until we’re all safe. My thoughts are w/ @IndiaUNNewYork & the Indian people.
The pledged aid package offers $255 million in relief funds to mitigate the damage from persistent drought as well as food shortages …reports Asian Lite News
The Unites States Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged an additional $310 million humanitarian aid for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in order to tackle wave of migration from those countries to the US, according to media reports.
The vice president had held virtual discussions with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei regarding the funding on Monday.
According to reports, Harris spokeswoman Symone Sanders said the leaders discussed the need for long-term economic growth to create jobs and stop the flow of migrants to the U.S., which has caused an early political and humanitarian crisis for President Joe Biden.
The aid package includes $255 million in relief funds to mitigate the damage from persistent drought as well as food shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Harris’ office.
The money would also fund safety precautions for refugees and asylum seekers and provide health and disaster-relief services to people in those three countries.
Another $55 million in Department of Agriculture funds would go to strengthen Guatemala’s farming industry and expand access to daily meals and literacy programs in Guatemala and Honduras, Harris’ office said, according to media reports.
Biden chose the vice president to lead the diplomatic response to the migration crisis by engaging with Central American governments.
The new role of Harris resembles that of Biden when he was vice president and asked by then President Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015 to lead diplomatic efforts in the Northern Triangle after a surge of unaccompanied minors from those countries began arriving in the United States.
Holistic supply partner GTEM packaged and transported the devices from their warehouse in Gloucestershire within just 24 hours. They are now being flown to Delhi for use in hospitals in India’s hardest-hit areas, the university said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News.
UCL, a leading multidisciplinary university in London, on Monday said it has sent 100 non-invasive breathing aids to India as part of the UK government’s shipment of emergency medical supplies.
The UCL-Ventura breathing aid is part of over 600 devices, including ventilators and oxygen concentrators, being sent to India, which is experiencing its biggest surge in Covid-19 infections, with over 350,000 new cases reported on Monday.
Holistic supply partner GTEM packaged and transported the devices from their warehouse in Gloucestershire within just 24 hours. They are now being flown to Delhi for use in hospitals in India’s hardest hit areas, the university said in a statement.
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a teacher for COVID-19 test at a school in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sept. 14, 2020. After a consistent drop in new cases, the Pakistani government has announced to reopen educational institutes in phases from Sept. 15. (Str/Xinhua/IANS)
Prof Rebecca Shipley, of UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering, said: “I’m immensely proud of the UCL-Ventura team and indebted to our logistics partner, GTEM, who after receiving the call on Saturday morning, arranged for the shipment to be sent with the government’s emergency supplies to India’s worst hit areas.
“In the last year we have built partnerships in countries across the world and we remain committed to doing everything we can to support the global Covid-19 response.”
Following the shipment of the first 100 devices, the team is ready to send more to India to help support the fight against Covid-19 and support hospitals in the region that are overwhelmed with patients.
The surge in cases has come at the same time as a severe shortage of medical oxygen in some areas.
The Rockefeller Building on University Street, one of UCL’s largest premises (Wikipedia)
The UCL-Ventura is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, which is non-invasive and helps to keep patients off mechanical ventilators. It is quick to produce and easy for staff to learn how to use.
It is in use in hospitals in at least 15 countries around the world. They were used extensively in the first waves in Italy and China, preventing around 50 per cent from progressing to mechanical ventilation, which requires sedation.
Engineers at UCL and Mercedes-AMG HPP worked round the clock with clinicians at UCLH to reverse engineer CPAPs during the UK’s first lockdown as they were in short supply in hospitals.
It took fewer than 100 hours from the initial meeting in March 2020 to production of the device. Since their mass manufacture, use of mechanical ventilation in UK hospitals has fallen by 26 per cent and intensive care stay has halved for survivors.
The plans and details required to make the device were also made available for manufacturers to download at no cost. Within just two days, nearly 700 requests to access the information had been approved for manufacturers, non-profits, health experts and research institutes in 25 countries, the university said.
The UCL-Ventura team has worked with charities, including the International Medical Education Trust (IMET2000) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), to support distribution and manufacture around the world.
Around 3,000 components of the kit have been delivered to countries by GTEM.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have assured India to help the country fight recent Covid 19 resurgence…reports Asian Lite News
Kamala Harris says the US is working closely with the Indian government to deploy additional support and supplies in light of the alarming Covid-19 outbreak, reports Asian Lite News
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have assured India and its people of providing all assistance, including urgently sending necessary medical life-saving supplies and equipment, to help the country combat the deadly coronavirus crisis.
“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need,” Joe Biden said in a tweet.
The President was spending his weekend at his home in Delaware but is believed to be following up the developments in India.
The U.S. is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming COVID-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India—including its courageous healthcare workers.
“The US is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming Covid-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India-including its courageous healthcare workers,” Kamala Harris said in a tweet.
The tweets are the first reactions by the top American leadership after the recent outbreak of deadly Covid-19 pandemic in India. The two leaders have been criticized by friends of India in the US, including some of their own party leaders, for slow response to their natural ally.
American people express solidarity
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she has been in close touch with Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla and India’s Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu in recent days on the issue.
“The American people stand in solidarity with our friends in India during these difficult times. We are rapidly providing therapeutics, ventilators, PPE, raw material for vaccines, and more,” Sherman said.
Maha rashtra Covid cases surge
Earlier on Sunday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval during which the White House announced that it is urgently sending medical supplies and equipment to save lives in India.
The Indian-American community, which had been critical of the Biden administration so far, welcomed the move.
“Great to see our US India partnership at work at this critical time,” Indiaspora said after Biden’s tweet.
“Moving the needle”.
“Good first steps,” Indian-American Democratic bundler Shekar Narasimhan said after Sullivan announced details of the assistance to India. In a tweet, he described it as “moving the needle”.
“I am also counting on private and corporate actions to make a difference. Many have a big stake in India and it’s not just Indian Americans,” he said.
New Delhi: Health workers wearing PPE suits and treatment for COVID-19 positive patient admit in Emergency Covid-19 care center by Delhi Government at Shahnai banquet Hall in front of LNJP hospital in New Delhi on Thursday April 15th, 2021.(Photo:Wasim Sarvar/IANS)
Taranjit Singh Sandhu thanked both US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Sullivan for their prompt response. “Thank you Sullivan for your reach out and support. We will fight the global pandemic through our collective action!” he said in a tweet.
“Thank you Secretary Blinken for your solidarity and support. Together, we will fight the global pandemic!” Sandhu said in another tweet.
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressional India Caucus Vice Chair and Member of the House Armed Services Committee, applauded the Biden administration.
“International cooperation and humanitarian assistance are the hallmarks of a truly progressive foreign policy. In the face of apocalyptic numbers of Covid-19 cases & new variants exploding in India, I applaud the Biden administration’s decision to put people over profits and provide additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), oxygen, and other medical supplies to India,” Ro Khanna said.
Ro Khanna
“I am also pleased to see the deployment of raw materials for India to produce more vaccines and USAID”s work with the CDC to expedite the mobilisation of emergency resources for India through the Global Fund. This must be done with the utmost speed and urgency,” he said.
Khanna said the Biden administration can still do more, like give India “our stockpile” of AstraZeneca vaccines that won’t be used in the US and have already opened up to Mexico and Canada. “And we should facilitate the Indian diaspora in America to help assist hospitals in India.”
The Indian-American Congressman said the administration should also call on Pfizer and Moderna to provide an intellectual property waiver for six months to a year as India grapples with the Covid-19 crisis. It will buy them an inordinate amount of goodwill in one of the largest emerging markets, he added.
“The White House should also convene Indian business leaders to make the case for why this is in these companies” long-term strategic interest. Many Indian American business leaders such as Vinod Khosla are happy to make the case to them why this is a good business decision. Mr. Khosla has committed to financially help any hospitals in India in need of supplies and will also be speaking with the India Caucus leadership to discuss what else can be done to assist,” Khanna said.
He said he is looking forward to joining the India Caucus leadership on a call with Indian Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu to discuss what additional steps the US can take to help India during this “incredibly difficult time”.
“This is a very tough time for the Indian people and underscores the continued threat of Covid-19. These new strains of the virus are gravely alarming and could pose a threat here in America and across the globe if we do not do all we can to contain the virus and its new variants,” he said.
The first shipment of equipment has already left Britain and it will be arriving to India in the early hours of Tuesday, reports Asian Lite News
Britain will be sending more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment to India to support it in the fight against Covid-19, the government announced.
The assistance package, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, includes ventilators and oxygen concentrators from surplus stocks. The Department of Health and Social Care have worked closely with the NHS, as well as suppliers and manufacturers in Britain to identify reserve life-saving equipment that can be sent to India.
Recently, India has been reporting high number of Covid-19 cases and deaths while several reports of shortage of oxygen are also coming.
The first shipment of equipment has already left Britain and it will be arriving to India in the early hours of Tuesday. Further shipments are due to follow later this week.
In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to the country this week. This equipment will be crucial in helping to save the lives of the most vulnerable in India. The oxygen concentrators, for example, can extract oxygen from the air in the atmosphere so that it can be provided to patients, taking the strain off hospital oxygen systems and allowing oxygen to be provided in situations where hospital oxygen supplies have run out.
Britain is working closely with the Government of India to identify further assistance it can provide in the coming days.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “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. 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. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time and I’m determined to make sure that the UK does everything it can to support the international community in the global fight against the pandemic.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “We are supporting our Indian friends with vital medical equipment at a difficult time for them in this pandemic. 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.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has said: “The heart-breaking scenes in India show once again how awful this terrible disease is. We are determined to support the people of India through this very difficult time, and I am hugely grateful to those who have worked hard to make this initial delivery happen.”
“This first delivery of life-saving equipment will provide much-needed assistance and we stand ready to do more. The global pandemic has challenged health systems all across the world and the best way to overcome adversity is to unite and defeat this dreadful disease together,” he added.
Syria receives Covid-19 vaccines donated by China(Twitter)
Boxes of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines were unloaded from the plane transporting them from China at the airport….reports Asian Lite News
Syria on Saturday received a batch of Covid-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government to help combat the pandemic.
Syrian Health Minister Hasan al-Ghabash and Deputy Foreign Minister Bashar al-Jaafari, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao, attended the reception ceremony at the international airport in the Syrian capital Damascus, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Boxes of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines were unloaded from the plane transporting them from China at the airport.
Al-Ghabash said that the long cooperation between China and Syria was crowned with the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine, “which has passed the three testing phases and has been proven to be effective and safe.”
The minister also expressed gratitude and thanks to the Chinese government for their ongoing support to Syria and the distinctive relations, which he hopes to continue for the interests of both countries and peoples.
For his side, Feng said that sending the vaccines to Syria is a tangible step in delivering on the China’s promise to make the Chinese vaccine a global public product.
“We are confident that it will help Syria to build a defense line against the pandemic and play a positive role in protecting the Syrian people and restoring normal life,” the Chinese ambassador said.
Before this donation, China had already provided batches of medical supplies to Syria and held online meetings attended by medical experts from the two countries to share China’s anti-pandemic experience since the Covid-19 outbreak in Syria last year.
Syrian health officials said the priority of the vaccination in Syria will be for the medical workers and elderly people, as well as those suffering from chronic illnesses.
The Covid-19 cases in Syria are on the rise amid the third wave of the pandemic. Syrian Health Ministry said that the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country hit 21,999 on Saturday, including 15,731 recoveries and 1,526 deaths.
Daniele Franco, Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance, said confronting the economic damage from the pandemic is the G20’s top priority…reports Asian Lite News
Finance Ministers and central bank governors from the world’s largest economies have agreed on continued financial backing for countries struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic “as long as required”, said the co-chair of a virtual G20 summit.
At the summit on Wednesday, Daniele Franco, Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance, said confronting the economic damage from the pandemic is the G20’s top priority, reports Xinhua news agency.
Franco said the participants at the second G20 meeting of the year agreed to use “all available policy tools for as long as required” in order to save lives and livelihoods.
Franco also said increasing the global availability of coronavirus vaccines in an “equitable and accessible” way was part of that effort.
G20 Italy(Twitter)
Franco and Ignazio Visco, Governor of the Bank of Italy and the other co-chair of the talks, spoke to more than 100 reporters on Wednesday via video hook-up from Rome.
That was the same format used by Ministers and governors for the negotiations.
While the coronavirus pandemic was the central topic at the virtual summit of representatives from 19 major economies and the European Union, discussions also touched on other pressing issues, such as the need for global action on climate change and the development of standards for a global corporate tax rate.
G20 Italy(Twitter)
Franco noted that the International Monetary Fund had just upped its estimate for GDP)growth to 6.0 per cent, up from 5.5 per cent in January.
He said that was a positive sign, but he warned that the global economic outlook remained “clouded by uncertainty” due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Together, G20 countries account for 80 per cent of the world’s GDP
