EU mobilizes Rs 282 million to tackle COVID-19 surge in Nepal

Kathmandu / May 13: The European Union (EU) has mobilized an initial Rs 282 million in humanitarian funding at the request of Nepal to help contain the explosion in COVID-19 cases.

According to a press statement issued by the European Union, the funding will be used to support monitoring of all home isolated cases through telehealth/telemedicine services and rapid referral to hospitals; national emergency medical teams deployment and international emergency medical teams mobilization facilitation; and procure COVID-19 equipment and supplies in Nepal.

Key equipment and supplies will include oxygen equipment including oxygen gas cylinders, oxygen concentrators, home care kits, diagnostics including antigen test kits; personal protection equipment. Nepal has also activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. According to the statement, Finland is the first member state to offer more than 2 million surgical facemasks, 350,000 FFP2 masks, 52,500 pairs of vinyl gloves and 30,000 isolation gowns.

“The COVID-19 surge in Nepal is claiming more lives every minute as it spreads across the country. We stand in full solidarity with Nepal in its fight against the pandemic. We are quickly mobilizing emergency support with initial €2 million funding,” the statement quoted EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, as saying. “I am very thankful to Finland for their quick offers of assistance via our Civil Protection Mechanism. We stand ready to provide further assistance.”

The EU’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in regular contact with the Nepali authorities to closely monitor the situation and channel the EU assistance.