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India ranks third in the world in the list of the worst affected countries by coronavirus. France has also provided technical expertise to India.

India is witnessing a spike in the number of coronavirus cases like never before and France has come forward to assist the country in dealing with pandemic. It has assisted India with ventilators and test kits through a French Air Force flight on July 28, Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron had recently said that his government would donate medical equipment to India as well as technical expertise.

The assistance provided by France includes 50 ventilators, 70 Yuwell-830 ventilators, 50,000 serological tests and 50,000 nose and throat swabs.

As long strategic partners, India and France have been working together closely on the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The countries have also agreed to reciprocate the assistance when the other country is in need.

Sources from Indian government said that France has always been an important strategic partner to India and has also provided certain life saving drugs in the time of need to help the country in the time of pandemic.

Sources also say that India has received this medical assistance at the same time when Rafale jets are supposed to land in the country.

The ventilators and test kits along with technical assistance has been received by the Indian Red Cross Society and ICMR.

Sources in the Indian Government also revealed that prime Minister of France Macron has also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing solidarity and support in these challenging times of coronavirus pandemic.

In the letter he sent on July 24, he also thanked Indian government for assisting France earlier this year with necessary help.

India has helped France earlier this year with medicines when the country was facing critical crisis in the spring season. The gesture by Indian government was praised by Macron and said that he can only see exponentially growing solidarity between the two countries.

Now, when India is going through a difficult phase in the COVID-19 times, France has promised to stand by its side extending aid that is in the country’s scope.

An expert mission on inter hospital transfers by military means was also dispatched according to sources. France has acquired expertise in this matter during the crisis time as it had to organize many transfers between the hospitals.

The equipment along with the personnel was sent by French government on a French Air Force A330 flight along with a Morpheus kit that enables the ferrying of critically ill patients.

Previously, France has extended support to India with 200 million euros through French Development Agency to enhance social welfare and to protect the poor people in India.

By Gayatri Yellayi