In view of the precarious public health situation in Vietnam, the Confederation has decided to support the country in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 13 tonnes of relief supplies are being delivered, with the Armed Forces Pharmacy providing 30 ventilators and the Federal Office of Public Health providing 500,000 antigen tests and 280,000 medical face masks. It has already been ensured that the supplies will not be needed by the Swiss population.
A cargo plane took off from Zurich today for Ho Chi Minh City, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in Vietnam. There, the equipment will be handed over to the Vietnamese health authorities by the Swiss consul general. The Swiss embassy in Vietnam is in close contact with all actors involved in this relief operation.
This is the eighth time in four months that Swiss Humanitarian Aid, which is part of the FDFA, has sent relief supplies abroad to combat the pandemic. This year, the Confederation has already sent relief supplies including ventilators, oxygen concentrators and medical protective equipment to Thailand (28 July), Indonesia (24 July), Tunisia (16 July), Mongolia (12 July), Sri Lanka (7 June), Nepal (21 May) and India (6 May). Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Switzerland has been continuously monitoring developments in the global public health situation and is ready to provide as much support as it can upon request.
Address for enquiries:
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher:
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Federal Department of Home Affairs
