1.1 million antigen tests, 40 ventilators, ten oxygen concentrators and protective material are to be flown from Switzerland to Kathmandu on Friday evening. The total costs of the humanitarian aid operation are estimated at around 7.5 million francs, as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced on Friday.
The action is a response to the exponential increase in Covid-19 cases in Nepal and an appeal for help from the Nepalese authorities. The FDFA wrote in advance that it had been ensured that the goods that were going to Nepal would not be needed to supply the Swiss population.
Nepal is a priority country of the Directorate for Development and Cooperation (SDC). For its part, the SDC has already committed CHF 13 million to tackle the pandemic in Nepal.
As the FDFA also announced, two weeks ago the Federal Humanitarian Aid sent 13 tons of relief supplies to the neighboring country of India, which is also badly affected. (SDA)