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UAE expresses solidarity with India as the country’s healthcare system collapses to a second wave of Covid-19
India is acquiring oxygen containers from the UAE to pump its hospitals with the life-saving gas as hundreds of patients are losing the battle against Covid-19, Indian ambassador to the UAE has confirmed.
“We are organising cryogenic tanks from the UAE to be airlifted to India,” Pavan Kapoor told Khaleej Times, confirming reports from India.
Media reports from India stated that C-17, a heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, has already landed in Dubai on Monday to airlift seven empty cryogenic oxygen containers.
India’s healthcare system has collapsed under a raging second wave that has sent the daily infections soaring above 300,000 — the highest daily tally anywhere in the world.
Hundreds of patients are gasping for breath as hospitals across the country are running perilously short on oxygen.
The Central government has assured to provide 480 metric tonnes of Oxygen to Delhi but several hospitals in the Indian capital continue to grapple with severe oxygen shortage. Bodies are awaiting funeral in many hospitals even as social media is flooded with SOS calls from residents requesting oxygen cylinders for their near and dear ones.
The UAE, home to more than 3.5 million Indians, has expressed solidarity and offered to stand with India during these trying times.
UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said on Monday that India expressed his solidarity with India during a call with his counterpart, Dr S Jaishankar.
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest tower, lit up in the colours of the Indian national flag on Sunday — a proof of the strong friendship shared by both countries.
“Sending hope, prayers and support to India and all its people during this challenging time,” read the tweet from Burj’s official account.
Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Arabia sent 80 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to India.
Narendra Modi’s government that has come under scathing attack on its mishandling of the Covid crisis has ramped up efforts to source out oxygen from different countries.
Four oxygen tanks were airlifted from Singapore on Friday.
The Indian Air Force on Friday also airlifted oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicines and other equipment from different parts of the country.
Several world countries including Russia, the UK, China, Pakistan and some European Union nations have offered to help India.
The Defence Ministry said Armed Forces Medical Services has decided to import oxygen generation plants and containers from Germany, due to shortage across hospitals. “Twenty-three mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany that will be deployed in AFMS hospitals for covid patients,” it added.
The UK has announced on Sunday that it will send life-saving ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices to India.
Anjana Sankar
Anjana Sankar is a UAE-based journalist chasing global stories of conflict, migration and human rights. She has reported from the frontlines of the wars in Yemen and Syria and has extensively written on the refugee crisis in Bangladesh, Iraq and Europe. From interviewing Daesh militants to embedding with the UAE army in Yemen, and covering earthquakes, floods, terrorist attacks and elections, she has come out scathe-free from the most dangerous conflict zones of the world. Riding on over 14 years of experience, Anjana currently is an Assistant Editor with Khaleej Times and leads the reporting team. She often speaks about women empowerment on her Facebook page that has 40,000 plus followers.
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