European Union Commission is preparing humanitarian assistance for India in the form of medical oxygen devices and medications, Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said on Monday.
“India has mainly asked for medical oxygen and antiviral drugs,” Ujvari said at a press conference, adding that the Commission is in close contact with EU members regarding the matter.
Ujvari specified that Ireland has already offered 700 oxygen concentrators, while France and Germany have also expressed their willingness to participate in the assistance campaign to India.
The spokesman said the Commission is holding discussions with the EU states on the coordination of humanitarian aid to India through the so-called civil protection mechanism, led by the commission itself and set up to boost cooperation between the European nations to provide emergency response to related situations within and outside the bloc.
The mechanism was activated on Friday, the official noted, adding that additional help to India is to be confirmed: “in the next few hours or days.”
When asked whether the EU authorities plan to ban travel between Europe and India, an EU spokesman reiterated the bloc’s recommendation to refrain from non-essential trips from outside Europe and vice versa.
