The first tranche of humanitarian aid to the value of about €2.3 million provided by the Government of Romania for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Chisinau. The convoy of 13 trucks full with equipment intended for national healthcare workers stopped in the central market of the capital city, IPN reports.
The shipment consists of 1,500,000 surgical masks, 100,000 FFP3 masks, 100,000 protective suits and 100,000 gloves.
Attending the handover event, President Maia Sandu said that the assistance will reach the doctors in hospitals. This is a clear proof of friendship and solidary on the part of Romania. She also thanked Romania for the assistance provided to the agricultural sector, noting she is hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccines will also come soon to Moldova so as to contain the pandemic and to return to normality. President Sandu called on the Moldovans to continue to be vigilant, to obey the protection norms and to understand that the burden on the health system is heavy.
Acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi noted that the swiftness and solidarity shown by the partners from the EU is impressive. He voiced hope that the humanitarian assistance will enable the medical personnel to cope with the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the Moldovan side is permanently in contact with the vaccine producers so that the shots are delivered to the country as swiftly as possible and the vaccination process could start.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Bogdan Aurescu said Romania considers the Republic of Moldova its absolute foreign policy priority. The only path to prosperity and development for the Republic of Moldova is the continuation of its European course and implementation of the reforms that were undertaken through the Association Agreement. “Today Romania brings to the Republic of Moldova equipment to the value of almost €2.3 million that is a follow-up to the assistance tranche delivered in the first week of January through the Ministry of National Defense of Romania. This gesture shows our consistency and our sincere and disinterested wish to support all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in the most difficult moments,” he stated.
EU Ambassador to Moldova Peter Mikhalko said that Romania’s assistance comes at an opportune moment. The equipment is vital in helping the frontline healthcare workers to look after the patients who need it. “This swift and continuous effort comes to show that the European Union is near the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism is an efficient instrument for quickly offering the necessary support,” stated the diplomat.
Adrian Belyi, head of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department of the Emergency Medicine Institute, thanked for the assistance provided to Moldova. “We promise that the doctors, as end-users of these goods, will continue their work that is often burdensome and will turn it into saved lives and into a return to normal life,” he stated.
Romania also offered aid to Moldova last April. Then, a team of 52 Romanian health professionals came to help the doctors in Moldova to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical equipment to the value of €3.5 million followed.
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