First Covid aid flight from Israel reaches Delhi; many more to follow

NEW DELHI: Covid aid has now started coming from Israel with the first consignment of oxygen concentrators flying into Delhi on Wednesday. More such flights will follow throughout this week, carrying emergency medical aid including thousands of group and individual oxygen generators, respirators, medications, and additional medical equipment, the Israeli embassy says, as a “a message of friendship and solidarity with the people of India following the country’s coronavirus crisis.”
Ambassador of Israel to India Ron Malka said: “In this hour of need, our two democracies stand solidly side by side.The State of Israel is happy to lend a helping hand to our friend India in this complicated and difficult time. Our friendship is strong and collaboration during the Covid-19 crisis will only make it stronger. I see great importance in the cooperation with India in this joint fight against the global pandemic.”
A task force was set up to gather support for Israel’s aid to India. Several private entities, Israeli companies, NGOs and the people of Israel came together to contribute towards this aid.
“In the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Israel, India mobilised to assist Israel, and within this framework approved the air delivery of masks, gloves, and raw materials for medications to Israel, and also helped arrange the repatriation of Israeli citizens. Now, Israel is proud to reciprocate this significant gesture,” the embassy said in a statement.
Last year, a high-ranking Israeli delegation travelled to India and completed a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of several Israeli technologies developed for the rapid diagnosis of the corona virus. This was called ‘Operation Open Skies’. Israel delivered aid and supplies, including ventilators that were exported to India following an exceptional approval. In recent months, the Israel Embassy contributed advanced medical equipment and technologies to hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS.