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UNICEF has sent additional critical lifesaving supplies to India, including 2 million face shields and 200,000 surgical masks.

Thanks to end-to-end logistics support from DP World, the equipment was dispatched from UNICEF’s warehouse in Dubai to New Delhi to help India battle a deadly wave of COVID-19. It is part of the global partnership between DP World and UNICEF which offers worldwide access to logistical services, including ports, rail, trucking and warehousing, free of charge.

“The tragic situation in India should raise alarm bells for all of us,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “Unless the world steps up and helps India now, there will be reverberations across the region and the world in terms of virus-related deaths, virus mutations and supply delays. The support of DP World and all our other partners has never been more critical.”   

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “DP World partnered with UNICEF because dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is humanity’s biggest logistics challenge in living memory. This emergency shipment of medical supplies is just one of many operations DP World will be supporting worldwide. The UAE and India have strong ties, and we stand by India through this devastating pandemic.” 

UNICEF and partners are mobilising to keep children and their families safe and healthy. UNICEF has provided oxygen concentrators and other critically needed emergency equipment to support the immediate response, while also supporting resilience-building against recurrent shocks and stresses to the health system that leave children and their families at risk.

UNICEF has supplied 85 COVID-19 testing machines, which form a crucial part of the Government of India’s response to the pandemic. Additionally, UNICEF is supporting the procurement and installation of 25 oxygen plants for hospitals in the Northeast and Maharashtra, and the installation of more than 70 thermal scanners at various ports of entry countrywide.

Since the start of the pandemic, UNICEF has been working with the government and partners in India to help stop the spread of COVID-19, sharing information with more than 660 million people on how to stay safe from the coronavirus. UNICEF has consistently worked to counter misinformation and promote COVID-19 protective practices, including wearing masks, physical distancing, and handwashing. New multimedia content is produced weekly in multiple languages for broadcast on digital channels and media, especially at the state level.

UNICEF needs US$21 million for the urgent delivery of additional testing equipment, supplies and oxygen products in India, and more than US$50 million for lifesaving COVID-19 interventions across sectors. 

With over half of the UK population already vaccinated, countries like India are experiencing their deadliest wave of the virus and the whole world continues to be at risk.

Now is the time to support the most vulnerable and hardest to reach communities on the planet with equal access to the Covid-19 vaccine, no matter where they live.

We’ll only ever be safe, if we’re all safe. Together, we can end this global pandemic. 

Help UNICEF provide treatment, tests and vaccines to end the COVID-19 crisis in India by donating to UNICEF UK and Crowdfunder’s VaccinAid appeal at vaccinaid.org

Notes to editors:

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For more information, please contact:

• Alexandra Murdoch, 0207 375 6179, AlexandraM@unicef.org.uk
• Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, media@unicef.org.uk

 About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.