The first emergency relief shipment, which will arrive from Travis Air Force Base, will include 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators donated by the state of California, The flight took off from the Travis Air Force Base on the world's largest military aircraft on Wednesday night, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said.
PTI reports that In addition, on this first flight, USAID is sending 960,000 Rapid Diagnostic Tests to identify infections early to help prevent the community spread of Covid-19 , and 100,000 N95 masks to protect India's frontline healthcare heroes,
The US President Joe Biden, recalling New Delhi''s assistance to America when it was in a "bind" due to the pandemic, has said the US is rushing a whole series of help, including life-saving drugs and machinery, that India needs to combat the massive surge in Covid-19 cases.
US state governments, private companies, non-government organisations and thousands of Americans from across the country have mobilised to deliver vital oxygen-related equipment and essential supplies to Indian hospitals during the current outbreak, the White House said.
The American lawmakers applauded President Joe Biden for all the help he was extending to India to save the lives of people suffering from COVID-19 and urged him to do more.
"My heart goes out to the people of India and neighbouring nations as they fight an uphill battle with COVID. I'm glad that the White House is providing these life-saving vaccines, but we will need a strong, coordinated global response in the days ahead," Congresswoman Carolyn Boudreaux said.
According to the agencies report, Congressman Michael Waltz Press said India is an essential ally in America's global competition with China. “Its strength is important to stability in Asia and the United States. We must do what we can to help them curb their new wave of Covid cases,” he added.
Congressman Bill Foster said while America continues to make progress in battling this pandemic, the critical situation in India cant be ignored.
Several other American lawmakers have also come out in support of India as its people battle one of the gravest challenges to its public health system.
“I am glad to see President Biden taking action to aid the people of India as they experience a devastating surge of COVID19. This will save lives and bring relief to millions of Indian-Americans who are worried about the health and safety of their loved ones in India,” Congressman Steven Horsford said.
Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, too came out in support of India.
“Pursuing vaccine equity doesnt just advance our economic & health security its a moral imperative. As a bastion of innovation & champion for marginalized people everywhere, the U.S. must lead efforts to guarantee immunization access to EVERYONE at home & abroad, Menendez tweeted.
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said he was pleased the US will be sending its AstraZeneca supply to India and other countries in need of it as he had urged earlier.
Meanwhile, UK’s Prince Charles charity has joined efforts to send aid to India.
In a message to the people of India, the heir to the throne said: “Indian aid and ingenuity has been a support to other countries through this immensely difficult time. As India has helped others, so now must we help India.”
“With support from the Indian diaspora, the British Asian Trust has launched an emergency appeal for India to channel this desire to do something about this terrible situation and help save lives. Many members of the diaspora, and others including businesses, trusts and foundations, have already come together behind this appeal. I do hope that even more of us might be able to provide support to help those in India in their time of need,” he said in his press release.
“Like many others, I have a great love for India and have enjoyed many wonderful visits to the country. Indian aid and ingenuity has been a support to other countries throughout this immensely difficult time. As India has helped others, so now must we help India, he said, adding that “we will win this battle” together.
The British Asian Trust, a charity Charles founded in 2007, launched an emergency appeal called “Oxygen for India” to buy oxygen concentrators, which can extract oxygen from the air when hospital infrastructure struggles to cope. As of Wednesday, the charity had raised more than 270,000 pounds, and the funds will be sent to the charity's local partners in India to procure oxygen equipment for the seriously ill in both cities and harder to reach rural areas.
