As India continues to battle a huge COVID-19 surge – countries around the world are joining forces to provide support to the struggling nation.
In the last 24 hours, India has reported almost 350,00 new COVID-19 cases and around 2,700 deaths – with authorities worried the true toll could be much higher.
In response to this, the U-K has begun sending the country ventilators and oxygen concentrators, with EU nations following suit.
The US is also gearing up to send aid and will lift a ban on sending raw materials abroad – meaning India will be able to produce more of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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. https://t.co/SzWRj0eP3y
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 25, 2021
India’s capital Delhi will move into an extended lockdown as overcrowded hospitals continue to fill up.
Spoke today with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval about the spike in COVID cases in India and we agreed to stay in close touch in the coming days. The United States stands in solidarity with the people of India and we are deploying more supplies and resources: pic.twitter.com/yDM7v2J7OA
— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) April 25, 2021
Washington was under mounting pressure to help India, the world’s largest democracy, after Britain, France and Germany pledged aid over the weekend.
US officials are also considering sending India its unused COVID-19 vaccines doses from AstraZeneca, the top US infectious disease official Dr Anthony Fauci told ABC News on Sunday.
“That’s something that certainly is going to be actively considered,” Dr Fauci said in an interview.
Meanwhile Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has promised to do what it can to help.
I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) April 26, 2021
