Finland sends material assistance to help India fight COVID-19 epidemic

On 11 May, Finland will send material assistance to India through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, which has overburdened the country's healthcare system. Finland's assistance consists of medical oxygen tanks and pulse oximeters.

Indian authorities have requested material assistance from EU countries because medical supplies and oxygen are currently in short supply and hospitals are not able to admit new patients. The material assistance will be delivered through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as part of the European Union’s joint assistance mission. The same cargo plane will carry ventilators supplied by Germany and medical oxygen tanks supplied by Greece.

The Ministry of the Interior has cooperated in this matter with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Supply Agency, the Finnish Red Cross, Oy Linde Gas Ab and Lyreco. The European Commission is coordinating the pooling of assistance and supports Member States in the arrangement of logistics and in transport costs.

Finland has offered material assistance to Nepal as well

On 11 May, the Ministry of the Interior decided to offer material assistance to Nepal as well, following the country's request for assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Finland is offering face masks and other personal protective equipment to Nepal. 

If the Nepalese authorities accept the offer of assistance, the materiel assistance will be sent to Nepal through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as part of the EU’s joint assistance mission at a later date.

Inquiries:
Pekka Tiainen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 456 4477, pekka.tiainen@intermin.fi
Lasse Ilkka, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, lasse.ilkka@stm.fi 
Jaakko Pekki, Director, National Emergency Supply Agency, tel. +358 295 051 015, jaakko.pekki@nesa.fi