The United States government has scrambled medical supplies to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to help manage the exploding coronavirus cases in the region. The US Agency for International Aid (USAID) airlifted emergency assistance to these countries, the agency said in a statement.

Three shipments of COVID-19 relief were supplied to Nepal and seven emergency air shipments to India to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Releasing a statement, the agency said it provided 880,000 vital pieces of personal protective equipment and 1,200 pulse oximeters to Sri Lanka to support frontline healthcare workers and others most affected by the current outbreak.

In Sri Lanka, the assistance has benefited millions of people in all 25 districts and nine provinces across the country, providing life-saving treatments, strengthening clinical care, and mobilizing critical supplies to bolster the response.

Earlier, the US provided $11.3 million to assist Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 response and recovery. 200 ventilators were also donated to care for critically ill patients in Sri Lanka.

“This airlift exemplifies the United States’ whole-of-government response to ensure assistance reaches people who need it quickly,” reads the statement. The agency said it was coordinating additional shipments for South Asia in the coming weeks.

(SAM)