* Qatar Airways and GWC support relief efforts * Donations can be made until end of May
Qatar Airways has explained the items that are accepted for donation as part of the relief initiative for India to help the country tackle the ongoing Covid-19 surge.
"Qatar Airways and Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) are proud to support relief efforts for India from communities in Qatar. We are sponsoring the transportation of designated healthcare goods to the Indian Red Cross Society in Delhi for distribution throughout the country to help curb the crisis the country is enduring now," the airline said in a post on its Facebook page.
"Local communities in Qatar are invited to make donations of much-needed medical equipment and supplies that will be sent on our cargo planes to India in the coming weeks," it added.
Qatar Airways had recently announced that it is supporting international efforts to tackle the Covid-19 surge in India by shipping medical aid and equipment to the country free of charge under the QR Cargo ‘WeQare’ initiative.
Those interested need to follow the below-mentioned instructions to make a donation and help make a difference:
* The types of supplies acceptable for donation: ventilators, oxygen concentrators, medical air compressors, Tocilizumab
injection and Remdesivir injection. PPEs, clothes or dry rations/groceries are not allowed.
* Guidance on the safe transport of relief supplies by air. Following the details regarding the specific items that are being accepted as well as the conditions to ensure safe transportation, drop-off details and general guidelines about the shipments:
- Ventilators/personal oxygen concentrators: original manufacturing packaging; must not be damaged; inform GWC if powered by lithium batteries.
- Oxygen cylinders: cylinders must be made of aluminium alloy or steel; maximum cylinder net weight: 150kg; working pressure of the cylinder must not exceed 2/3 of the test pressure, but not exceeding 5 bars (check the valve if visible or contact the manufacturer or sales person for confirmation); cylinder must be valid within 10 years from the test period (embossed on the cylinder); pressure gauge (regulator valve) must not be damaged.
- Medical air compressors: pressure valve/vessel must be empty (zero).
- Drug: Remdesivir injection/Tocilizumab injection: original packaging; Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) required
* Drop-off point: GWC Logistics Village, Qatar; warehouse unit for drop-off - DWH 1; location - goo.gl/maps/hACoEFLVZKtSPA8N8
* Acceptance timings: from 9am to 9pm. Donations can also be accepted beyond 9pm by giving prior intimation.
* Contact: Jinesh John: 6652 3886; Dipesh Muralidharan: 3314 3567
* Donations can be made until the end of May.
Goods indicated are the only ones accepted under this programme. Those donating goods must bring appropriate identification (QID) and provide contact details at the drop-off point.
GWC and Qatar Airways will examine the goods and packaging to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. Items determined not fit for air transportation will be notified/returned to the donor.