Canada to aid India's COVID fight with $10 mn, announces PM Justin Trudeau

OTTAWA: Prime minister Justin Trudeau declared that Canada would send $10 million to India to aid in the country's battle against the unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau said at a press conference that foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau had direct discussions with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar about how Canada would best assist, including the donation of additional medical supplies.

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We are also prepared to donate $10 million to the Indian Red Cross through the Canadian Red Cross, said Trudeau.

"Everything from ambulant care to purchasing more personal protective equipment locally would be supported," he said.

"Go to redcross.ca to contribute to the disaster relief efforts on the field. We are all in this war together as a world," Trudeau said.

About the talks between the two countries' foreign ministers, he said: "We are there to help in whatever way we can, and those discussions are very much ongoing."

"When we see the horrific and devastating images coming out of India, it's something that Canadians are deeply worried about," he said.

Foreign affairs minister Garneau earlier said on Twitter that he spoke with Jaishankar about the COVID-19 situation in India and expressed Canada's solidarity with the Indian people.

"This morning, I spoke with @DrSJaishankar to convey Canada's solidarity with the people of India as they face this deadly wave of #Covid19. Canada is exploring all options to support India's urgent needs. We are ready to assist," he said in a tweet.

With more than 3,00,000 new coronavirus cases recorded daily in the last few days, India is dealing with a second wave of the pandemic and hospitals in many states are running out of medical oxygen and beds.

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