KATHMANDU, MAY 20

The Embassy of Nepal in Spain, on Wednesday, received in-kind humanitarian aid to Nepal to fight the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (Spanish acronym: AECID) handed over the aid to Madrid based Nepali diplomatic mission, according to a press release issued by the Embassy.

Relief materials have been handed over to the Ministry of Health and Population for distribution in Nepal. Ventilators, oxygen concentrators, antigen test kits, Personal Protective Equipment, among other items were received today by Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi at Tribhuvan International Airport, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As Covid-19 cases surged in May, Nepal requested aid from the European Civil Protection Mechanism to provide medical supplies and help contain the spread of the pandemic, stated the Embassy of Nepal in Spain, adding that it also sent a request to Spain's Foreign Ministry, to which an immediate offer for providing humanitarian support to Nepal was made.

The equipment donated by Spanish Ministry of Health comprises 33 pallets valued at around 1 million Euros. The shipment, with more than 5 tonnes of health materials, includes 15 respirators, 10 oxygen concentrators, together with consumables and spare parts necessary for their use, 144,000 FFP2 face masks and some 125,000 antigen test kits. The materials have been checked so that it is fit for immediate use upon arrival in Nepal, the Embassy said.

The items of aid was transported to Nepal through a chartered flight from Spain. The delegation included Ambassador of Nepal to Spain Dawa F Sherpa, Magdy Martinez-Soliman, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Manuel Gonzalez Garragori, Director of the Division of Consular Emergency, Roberto Arranz Arran, MAEC, Head of the Emergency & Post Conflict Department, AECID, Officials of Department of Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and mediapersons from Spain.

AECID has also offered the Ministry of Health of Nepal a specialised medical training package in response to the pandemic, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Health, the country's large hospitals and the Comunidades Autónomas.

It has futher been reported that the flight also includes materials collected by the Nepali diaspora in Spain to assist Nepal. This includes supplies like masks, sanitizers, gloves, among others.

The Embassy coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) in Spain, Embassy of Spain in New Delhi, and Honorary Consul in Kathmandu to organise the humanitarian flight which served to bring the medical aid to Nepal and to repatriate Spanish nationals and residents stranded here due to suspension of commercial flights.