HH the Amir directs to send medical aid to Italy

Qatar continues to show its remarkable humanitarian spirit, extending support to friendly countries, as the world battles with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Since the start of the pandemic, the country has offered support in the form of relief aid and assistance to a number of countries.

In February, Qatar Airways became the first international airline to offer emergency relief flight delivery to China. The airline carried about 300 tonnes of medical supplies to the East Asian country.

Additionally, upon the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the country sent over 13 tonnes of relief aid including medical equipment and supplies to Iran to help the country fight the virus.

Qatar has also extended a helping hand to Palestinians in Gaza, upon the directives of HH the Amir. The Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza together with the Qatar Fund for Development initiated the process of disbursing cash assistance to as many as 100,000 needy families in the Gaza Strip at the end of March. 

In addition to these efforts, Qatar will now provide support to Italy to help the country tackle COVID-19. 

Upon the directives of HH the Amir, Qatar's medical aid to Italy includes sending two Qatari Amiri Air Force aircraft loaded with two field hospitals. They are scheduled to arrive in Italy on Wednesday.

HH the Amir directed sending medical aid to Italy to support the country's efforts to combat the coronavirus epidemic. The aid includes sending two military aircraft, scheduled to arrive on Wednesday and two additional military aircraft to arrive on Thursday. #QNA pic.twitter.com/vxxUIQFh6v

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) April 7, 2020

According to a statement by the Amiri Diwan, the area of the first field hospital is about 5,200 square meters, and the second hospital is about 4,000 square meters, with a capacity of 1,000 beds for both hospitals.

The hospitals come with modern technical devices and equipment to help in the treatment of people infected by the virus.

In addition to this, the aid also comprises sending two additional military aircraft as an extension of the Qatari medical assistance that HH the Amir has directed to provide to Italy. This will be sent by Thursday. 

Meanwhile, Italian ambassador Alessandro Prunas visited the military base in Qatar where the two planes were to take off from.

#COVID19 | Amb. Prunas visits the military base in #Qatar where two planes will take off with the equipment necessary to install two field hospitals in #Italy. The donation embodies the close relations between our peoples, our Countries and Armed Forces. Thank you Qatar ?????? pic.twitter.com/gqJUwtbGzB

— Italy in Qatar (@ItalyinQatar) April 7, 2020

"I would like to join the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, in his expression of gratitude to the State of Qatar for its timely and generous donation of two field hospitals with a capacity of 500 beds each," the ambassador said in a statement, reported Gulf Times.

"It is a tangible gesture of friendship between the Italian and Qatari people and a strong support for Italy’s efforts to fight the pandemic," he added. 

Earlier, in March, HH the Amir had expressed Qatar's solidarity with the Italian nation. He had expressed his confidence in Italy’s abilities to fight the virus outbreak and confirmed Qatar was ready to provide all the possible help in this regard.

Recently, some United Nations' representatives also praised Qatar's efforts to fight COVID-19, locally and internationally.

This adds to the recognition the country received by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

For any queries, or concerns related to COVID-19 in Qatar, the public can contact a 24/7 hotline set up by the Ministry. The hotline number is 16000 and is toll-free.

Here's everything you need to know about the virus, including ways to protect yourself. 

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