By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Aug. 17: A consignment of medical equipment and supplies from Lithuania to support Nepal fight the COVID-19 pandemic was handed over today to the Ministry of Health and Population.

The consignment was dispatched through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The support of the 13 EU Member States that have extended medical support to Nepal including Lithuania in the recent months is around Euro 12 Million (NPR 1.7 billion), according to a press release issued by the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal.

Lithuania is one among the 13 EU Member States –Spain, Finland, France, Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Malta, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and Hungary responding to Nepal’s call for assistance.

Nepal had appealed to the international community on May 10 for support of medical equipment and supplies to fight a severe outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The medical supplies contributed by Lithuania include 5 breathing machines (mechanical ventilators) and 20 oxygen inhalers from the state reserve, which is administered by the Ministry of Health of Lithuania. The total value of the humanitarian aid provided to Nepal amounts to almost Euro 50,000 (NPR 7.08 million), read the press release.