UN Chief ‘Salutes’ India For Helping World Fight Coronavirus Pandemic

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres salutes India and all countries that are helping others in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

India has offered to help member countries of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and has sent hydroxychloroquine and other medicines to countries like US, Brazil and Italy.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also said given the enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic, India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation.

In the neighbourhood, India is sending the drug to Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh Nepal, the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, sources said.

Earlier, the president of US President Donald Trump has requested India to lift its ban from the export of medicines and drugs like hydroxychloroquine and had in an apparent warning said that “there may be retaliation” if India does not agree to export.

However, India agreed to lift this ban and allowed the export of such drugs and medicines. India has also sent its military health professionals to Kuwait and Maldives to help deal with the pandemic.