UK Sends 3 Oxygen-Generation Units In World’s Largest Cargo Plane To India

Foreign countries are continuing to help India overcome the crisis that has arisen due to the second wave of Covid-19.

As part of its help to our nation, UK has sent three 18-tonne oxygen generators and 1,000 ventilators to India. The world’s largest cargo plane, Antonov 124, left Belfast in Northern Ireland on Friday with the life-saving equipment funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The aircraft is expected to land in Delhi at 0800 IST on Sunday morning.

The Indian Red Cross will help transfer the generators to hospitals. Each of the three oxygen generation units is the size of 40 foot freight containers and would produce 500 litres of oxygen per minute, which would be sufficient for 50 people at a time.

With India reeling under acute shortage of oxygen and with many Covid patients falling victims to the infection, this equipment is expected to give a fresh lease of life to those suffering.

“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,” said UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. The UK and India have been working together to tackle this pandemic. No one is safe until we are all safe, he said.

Last month, the UK sent 200 ventilators and 495 oxygen concentrators to India, which was also funded by the FCDO. The assistance package has been sourced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the offer by Northern Ireland’s health service is in addition to 1,000 ventilators offered by the DHSC.

“The situation in India is heart-breaking and we stand side by side with our friends as they face this immense challenge,” said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann was at Belfast International Airport to monitor the shifting of the surplus oxygen generators by his department, which were loaded onto the giant plane.

“As we battle this global pandemic together, we will continue to do all that is possible to help the Indian authorities turn the tide on this dreadful virus,” said Swann.

The UK is one among several countries which stepped in to help India facing a devastating second wave of Coronavirus pandemic.