Australia facilitates transportation of 810,000 facemasks donated by Viet Nam to Timor-Leste
Yesterday, 810,000 high grade facemasks donated by the Government of Vietnam arrived in East Timor’s Capital, Dili. Australia facilitated the delivery of the masks by arranging for their transport from Ha Noi to Dili via sea freight.
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| Bridget Collier, Political Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Ha Noi, joined Mr Tran Thai Son, Head of the Administration Department of the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, in March 2021 to witness the facemasks leaving Ha Noi for Dili via Haiphong. (Photo: Australian Embassy in Ha Noi) |
The facemasks, which were manufactured by Phu Bao Medical at its production facility in Long An Province, arrive at a critical moment for Timor-Leste as it battles a surge in Covid-19 cases. The situation has been further compounded by devastating floods and landslides caused by tropical cyclone Seroja, which have caused extensive damage throughout the country, including to national medical storage facilities.
The floods could not have come at a worse time, Peter Roberts, Australian Ambassador to Timor Leste said: “Covid-19 cases have increased dramatically over recent months. Health centres, bridges and thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged.
With many essential services knocked out by the floods and thousands of people being forced to take refuge at evacuation centers, the country is facing mounting challenges in preventing the further spread of the virus.
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| Counsellor for Human Development at the Australian Embassy in Dili, Carli Shillito, hands over the facemasks to Timor-Leste Health Minister Dr Odete Belo. (Photo: Australian Embassy in Ha Noi) |
The facemasks supplied by Viet Nam will make a highly valued contribution to the fight against Covid-19, particularly in helping to protect medical staff and other frontline workers.
By working together to deliver these much-needed medical supplies, Australia and Viet Nam are assisting Timor-Leste in its fight against the spread of Covid-19.
It is another example of the growing practical cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia under our Strategic Partnership, and Viet Nam’s increasing leadership in addressing regional challenges”, Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam said.
