“United Nations agencies have delivered nearly 10,000 oxygen concentrators and 10 million medical masks to India “

India also accounted for 46% of global cases and 25% of global deaths reported last week, the WHO said. (Representative image: AP)

Several United Nations agencies have delivered nearly 10,000 oxygen concentrators and around 10 million medical masks to India to help national and local governments fight the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the chief spokesperson. UN.

In India, the UN team on the ground “continues to support the authorities – both nationally and locally – to fight the pandemic,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, on Thursday. , Antonio Guterres, during a daily press briefing.

He said UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have delivered nearly 10,000 oxygen concentrators, nearly 10 million medical masks and more 1.5 million face screens. The United Nations team also purchased ventilators and oxygen production facilities.

UNICEF is also providing cold chain equipment for COVID-19 vaccines.

“Our team also delivered testing machines and kits, as well as thermal scanners for airports,” he said, adding that WHO also provides tents and beds for temporary health facilities and that the agency has deployed thousands of public health specialists to help fight the pandemic.

UNICEF and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are also helping to monitor more than 175,000 immunization centers across India.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore previously warned that the “tragic” COVID-19 situation in India should “sound the alarm bells for all of us.” Unless the world steps in and helps India now, there will be reverberations across the region and the world in terms of virus-related deaths, viral mutations and supply delays. ”

India is in the midst of a raging second wave of COVID-19, recording more than 400,000 daily coronavirus infections and more than 3,000 deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has a total of more than 20.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 226,000 deaths.

Countries in the South Asian region are seeing an increase in infections, with India accounting for more than 90% of cases and deaths in the region, according to the World Health Organization.

India also accounted for 46% of global cases and 25% of global deaths reported last week, the WHO said.

UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, George Laryea-Adjei, said in a statement that urgent action and continued leadership are essential to stop the disaster.