More than 25 tonnes of medical supplies are on their way to Tunisia from Italy, as part of international efforts to help the North African country cope with a new surge of the Coronavirus that is overwhelming local hospitals.
"In response to the dramatic developments in the health crisis in Tunisia, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy's overseas aid department, on the instructions of deputy foreign minister Marina Sereni, has ordered the dispatch to the port of Tunis of over 25 tons of medical supplies to fight COVID-19," said a foreign ministry statement.
A first container load of supplies left for Tunis on Thursday aboard a ship that set sail from the port of Naples, while a further four containers will be shipped to Tunisia aboard "several" other vessels "in the coming days," according to the statement.
The "vast humanitarian cargo" includes lung ventilators, protective masks, gloves, surgical gowns and sanitising gel and the shipments were arranged through Italy's special commissioner for the COVID-19 emergency with logistical support from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Brindisi, the statement said.
"With this operation, Italy intends to reaffirm its friendship and solidarity with the Tunisian people," the statement underlined.
The cargo will be delivered to Tunisia's foreign ministry, the statement noted.