The Ministry of External Affairs addressed the media following up on the initiatives proposed by Prime Minister Modi during the SAARC video conference. The Ministry officials repeatedly appealed to the Indians around the world to kindly be wherever they are until and unless it is extremely necessary.
As per the proposal made on the SAARC video conference, the Ministry of External Affairs has set up a COVID emergency fund to provide aid to other nations of the region. As per the officials, the request so far received has crossed the cost of 1 Million US dollars worth of masks, sanitizers, disinfectants and other medical aid. Out of the various requests, the one made by Bhutan and Maldives have been completed and the aid has been delivered.
The MEA also briefed upon the developments in the newly set up COVID control room that receives specific requests from Indians around the world. As per the Ministry data, the team comprising of 30 people attend over 400 mails and 600 calls every day taking the tally to over 13,000 calls as of today. The Ministry also confirmed that the efforts are being made to expand the team.
When asked about Pakistan’s behavior on the video conference, the Ministry condemned the politicization of the situation by Pakistan and said that there is a need to deal with this situation on humanitarian grounds as the virus doesn’t recognize borders.
On Evacuating Stranded Indians
The media repeatedly asked about the situation of stranded Indians in other countries especially Iran and Italy. Speaking about the protocol of the rescue operation, the MEA confirmed that the evacuation happens on the basis of requests. While the stranded Indians should undergo the COVID test in their respective places before hopping on the plane, in case of inaccessibility, India will send a medical team as it has in case of both Iran and Italy. Only the negative tested Indians will be brought back and the positive tested will be kept under medical treatments coordinated by the Indian embassy and the local government.
The MEA also announced that India is planning to evacuate its citizens from Rome in the coming weekend after a team of doctors returned with samples. Out of 380 samples, only four have been tested positive.
Speaking on the dip of foreign nationals visiting the country, the Ministry revealed that a dip from 33,000 visitors on February 20th to 1245 as of yesterday was witnessed.
However, the Ministry has ensured that every Indian’s issue will be addressed to the best of efforts and repeatedly appealed to stay put on their respective places. The Ministry will brief further as and when there is a development.
