In implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, shipments of urgent medical aid — provided by Qatar through the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) — were sent to Ukraine, Moldova and Ethiopia on Tuesday in support of the efforts of the friendly countries to face the Covid-19 outbreak, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) said.

In a statement, QFFD said the shipments - weighing 27 tonnes - were delivered by Qatar Airways and contained medical equipment and supplies such as masks, sterilisers and medical disinfectants.

Officials before the departure of urgent medical assistance for Ukraine

QNA later reported that a cargo plane loaded with urgent medical aid arrived in Ethiopia. The aid shipment was received by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr Ergoge Tesfaye; Minister of State in the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, Dr D Dujma; and Qatar's ambassador to Ethiopia Hamad bin Mohamed al-Dosari.

A cargo plane loaded with 8.5 tonnes of urgent medical assistance also arrived in Moldova, QNA added. The medical assistance was received by the Minister of the Interior of Moldova, Pavel Fico; State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Dumitru Sokolan; Assistant Minister of Health, Labour and Social Protection Alexandro H; and acting charge d'affaires at the embassy of Qatar to Moldova, Hamad bin Rashid al-Athba.



Officials before the departure of urgent medical assistance for Moldova

On this occasion, Moldova's Minister of Interior expressed his thanks to His Highness the Amir for providing medical assistance in this difficult time, noting that it would help the Moldovan government face the challenges of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

For his part, al-Athba affirmed that Qatar stands with the friendly Republic of Moldova and its people, noting that the Qatari medical aid is directed to support the Moldovan health sector in facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Officials mark the arrival of urgent medical assistance in Moldova

Meanwhile, Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, director-general of QFFD, said: “This medical assistance provided by the State of Qatar to friendly countries comes within the framework of the efforts made to combat the spread of this pandemic, which represents a common threat facing the whole world, and in the context of joint international responsibility.

"This assistance confirms the position of the State of Qatar in supporting friendly countries and its assistance to overcome this crisis.”

Qatar has provided, through QFFD, more than one air bridge of urgent medical assistance to sisterly and friendly countries "during this unprecedented pandemic" in the past few months, the QFFD statement added.


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