Covid-19 Surge: France To Assist India With Eight Oxygen Generation Plants, Ventilators And ICU Equipment

France is set to provide significant additional oxygen support to India in the wake of the rising Covid-19 infections in the country.

The European nation will provide eight oxygen generation plants to India. Other assistance include liquid oxygen for 2,000 patients for five days, as well as 28 ventilators and equipment for ICUs.

“In the next few days, France will deliver to India not only immediate relief but also long-term capacities: eight high capacity oxygen generators, each providing yearlong O2 for 250 beds, liquid oxygen for 2000 patients for five days 28 ventilators and equipment for ICUs,” Emmanuel Lenain, the Ambassador of France to India tweeted.

Several nations such as Britain, the United States, Germany and France have rolled out essential assistance on this front to India. The European Union (EU) is also collectively gearing up to give swift assistance to India.

"Alarmed by the epidemiological situation in India. We are ready to support. The EU is pooling resources to respond rapidly to India's request for assistance via the EU civil protection mechanism," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told the AFP.

The stated civil protection mechanism paves the way for EU countries to effectively coordinate their assistance during certain emergency cases.

Certain parts of India, most notably New Delhi, has been hit by a major oxygen shortage in the last few weeks. The country reported 3,49,691 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday (25 April) and this has led to overcrowding of hospitals in some places.

Earlier, it came into light that the US has dispatched five tonnes of oxygen concentrators to India. Similar support is expected from them in the coming few days too.