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The Antonov 124 aircraft is estimated to land in Delhi on Sunday morning after which the Indian Red Cross will help transfer supplies to hospitals.
The British government said the world’s largest cargo plane left Belfast in Northern Ireland on Friday with three 18 tons of oxygen generators and 1,000 ventilators as part of Britain’s latest response to India’s COVID-19 crisis.
The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), which has funded the supplies, said the airport staff worked overnight and the Antonov 124 plane, which is expected to land at 0800 IST in Delhi, loomed largely. The scale worked to load the life-saving kit. In the morning after which the Indian Red Cross will help them to be shifted to hospitals. The size of each 40-foot cargo container in each of the three oxygen generation units produces 500 liters of oxygen per minute, enough for 50 people at a time.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, “The UK is sending surplus oxygen generators from Northern Ireland to India. This life-saving equipment will support the country’s hospitals as they care for vulnerable COVID patients”. He also added in his statement, “The UK and India are working together to tackle this pandemic. No-one is safe until we are all safe”.
The latest set of supplies were announced earlier and follow 200 ventilators and 495 oxygen concentrations shipped from the UK to India last month, also funded by the FCDO. The aid package has been approved by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the offer by the Health Service of Northern Ireland is in addition to the 1,000 ventilators provided by DHSC.
Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, “The situation in India is heartbreaking and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends.”
Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swan spotted the giant aircraft at Belfast International Airport to supply surplus oxygen generators delivered by his department. Swann said, “The scenes coming out of India are a vivid reminder of the devastation this virus can cause and it shows no sign of abating”.
India is undergoing a devastating second wave of coronavirus epidemics, resulting in a shortage of critical medical equipment and supplies. Britain is one of several countries that have offered support from their surplus shares during the crisis.
