Due to the severe medical crisis in India facing diminishing medical supplies, France, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Belgium urgently send out medical supplies to India to include oxygen plants and medicines, as a lethal second wave of COVID-19 hit India and a special cargo flight brought 28 tonnes of medical equipment from France as part of the country’s first phase of the “solidarity mission” launched by President Emmanuel Macron to help India.

The French cargo included eight large oxygen plants, 28 ventilators, and 200 electric syringe pumps and the French embassy said each of the eight plants can continuously supply oxygen to a 250-bed hospital round-the-clock for a dozen years and that they produce medical oxygen from ambient air.

“The oxygen plants will be delivered to 8 Indian hospitals, 6 in Delhi, one in Haryana, and one in Telangana, based on needs as identified by the Indian authorities,” the French embassy said in a statement on Saturday.

French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said more supplies will come soon from France and that both countries stand together in this fight against the pandemic.

The embassy said the medical supplies were worth more than ₹ 17 crores.

“We stand by India in these difficult times, just as India has always stood by France. In Spring 2020, when French hospitals were facing acute shortages, India provided life-saving help through the export of critical medical drugs,” Lenain said.

A spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said the assistance by France is a testament to the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“A testament to India-France strategic partnership & friendship! 28 tonnes of medical equipment including 8 hospital-level oxygen generators and other medical supplies arrive from France. Deeply appreciate the support from France. Will bolster our oxygen capacities,” he tweeted.

Taiwan also sent 150 oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders in consideration of its strong bond with India in its fight against the pandemic.

Belgium also sent 9,000 vials of remdesivir to India on Sunday.

In a statement, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) said more batches of medical equipment and supplies will be airlifted to India soon.

“To express strong friendship with India in its fight against a new wave of Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan is delivering critical medical supplies to India. The first batch of 150 oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders have arrived in New Delhi on Sunday,” the TECC said.

The TECC is Taiwan’s representative office in India.

“Taiwan’s deployment of medical supplies is testament to the close collaboration and partnership across multiple agencies on both sides. It also reflects the robust relief efforts and contributions made by the government and people of Taiwan to bring humanitarian relief to India,” it said.

Taiwan and India have informal trade and people-to-people ties while China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.  Presently Taiwan’s airspace is invaded by Chinese military jets and relations between Taiwan and China are strained.

Central Asian country Uzbekistan also supplied 100 oxygen concentrators as well as remdesivir and other medicines to India.

The US on Saturday night sent to India a third flight that brought over 1000 oxygen cylinders, regulators, and other medical equipment as well as 100 million dollars.

Two American military aircraft on Friday brought to India large amounts of emergency medical supplies which included 423 oxygen cylinders with regulators, 210 pulse oximeters, 17 large oxygen cylinders, 8,84,000 Abbott rapid diagnostic test kits, and 84,000 N-95 face masks.

As India is struck by the destructive second wave of coronavirus pandemic, several countries around the globe are rising up in solidarity, sending medical aid and all assistance to help India go through the storm safely.

The nations that have announced assistance to India include the US, Russia, France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait, and Mauritius.

Also Read: The DMK’s great comeback to Tamil Nadu after ten years