ROME: Italy is sending 25 tons of medical aid to Tunisia to help alleviate the North African country’s health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The first shipment arrived in Tunisia on Friday, with more to follow in the coming days. They include ventilators, protective masks, gloves, surgical gowns and sanitizing gel.
“With this operation, Italy intends to reaffirm its friendship and solidarity with the Tunisian people,” Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni told Arab News.
In the last week, Tunisia has received donations from various countries to combat the pandemic, including from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France and China.
The health situation in Tunisia is deteriorating. According to data released by the Health Ministry, 164 deaths and 7,878 new cases were recorded on Wednesday.
So far, Tunisia has recorded 526,487 infections and 17,009 deaths, and its national vaccination campaign, which began on March 13, is proceeding slowly.
Its public hospitals are struggling due to the high number of hospitalizations, with almost 93 percent of beds in intensive care units occupied. In the south, the army has set up field hospitals to face the emergency.
