The US has flown the first consignment of emergency COVID-19 relief materials including oxygen cylinders, regulators and testing kits to India.

The materials sent through the Travis Air Force Base on the world’s largest military aircraft on Wednesday, includes 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators donated by the State of California, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In addition, on the first flight are 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 materials were dispatched two days after US President Joe Biden pledged support to India which is now battling a massive second Covid 19 wave.

The USAID has provided over USD 23 million in assistance since the start of the pandemic, directly reaching nearly 10 million Indians.

The agency is also quickly procuring 1,000 medical oxygen concentrators that will be used in 320 primary health care facilities.