IMVF is one of the Portuguese NGDOs that, through the four European Union humanitarian air bridges coordinated by Portugal, will bring medical material and equipment to Guinea-Bissau to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first of four flights of the European Union humanitarian air bridge organized by Portugal arrived on June 23, at Bissau, and was received by the Ambassador of the European Union, Sonia Neto, the High Commissioner for the Fight against COVID-19, Dr. Magda Robalo, the Ambassador of Portugal, António Alves de Carvalho, the Ambassador of France, Jean Louis Zoël and the Chargé d’Affaires of Spain a.i., Juan Manuel Lopez Urdiales.
These flights carry about 45 tons of material and medical equipment worth over 2 M EUR. The cargo includes medicines, laboratory, and personal protection equipment for health professionals to support Guinea-Bissau’s response to the coronavirus, providing the Guinean population with better health care.
The European Union finances the entire transport costs of this operation, with Portugal coordinating the logistics and procurement of donations from various partners, including UNDP and other UN Agencies, the World Bank, Foundations and NGOs from Portugal, Spain and Italy, which have joined forces to address and overcome the humanitarian and health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea Bissau.
The European Union’s humanitarian airlift aims to bring humanitarian aid to countries affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, bringing medical equipment and humanitarian personnel to the most vulnerable populations in a context where the pandemic imposes transport and logistics restrictions. The air-bridge flights are fully financed by the European Union and operated in coordination with the Member States and humanitarian organisations sending material and in cooperation with the country of destination. The Humanitarian Air Bridge is a temporary initiative that complements the logistics services of the United Nations Global Humanitarian Response Plan.
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