The Diplomat
The Government allocated 550,000 euros for humanitarian aid to Tunisia, in the face of the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic, after the second half of June saw a sharp increase in the number of infections.
Yesterday, the Council of Ministers took cognizance of the aid to the Maghreb country which has already been carried out in the months of July and August, through various channels.
The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) was in charge of managing the donation of the aid, through a transfer of funds to the Humanitarian Action Office.
AECID also purchased other complementary goods, such as 600 pulse oximeters, PCR tests, 122 oxygen concentrators, ICU respirators and other equipment and consumables.
For its part, the Ministry of Health donated 100,000 antigen tests, 50,000 FPP2 masks and 15 respirators to the Tunisian authorities.
AECID was responsible for all supplies, transport logistics and associated customs expenses.
On July 4, 2021, 67,161 active cases were reported in Tunisia, with an average of 5,461 cases per day over the previous seven days, 106 deaths per day, a positivity rate in diagnostic tests of more than 30% and a health occupancy rate of 89% in intensive care units and 95% in hospital oxygen beds.
In view of this situation, the Tunisian authorities appealed for help, both to the European Civil Protection Mechanism and bilaterally to Spain. They also urgently requested Covid-19 diagnostic tests, increased oxygen capacity, personal protective equipment such as gloves or masks, as well as essential drugs, vaccines and oxygen therapy equipment for coronavirus patients.
