• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

S’pore has sent 256 oxygen cylinders and more to support India’s COVID-19 efforts: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

The minister emphasised that Singapore is committed to helping India through this crisis

by kathleen
11/05/2021
in Parliament
Reading Time: 2 mins read
8
S’pore has sent 256 oxygen cylinders and more to support India’s COVID-19 efforts: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman handing over Singapore’s humanitarian assistance to High Commissioner of India to Singapore, P Kumaran, at Paya Lebar Air Base on 28 April.

Singapore has sent 256 oxygen cylinders to support Indian’s pandemic response, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, delivered directly to West Bengal by two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircrafts.

In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Singapore’s efforts to help India through the worsening COVID-19 crisis there, Dr Balakrishnan noted that the country is also facilitating India’s efforts in procuring COVID-19 supplies through Singapore based entities, or by providing transport and logistical support.

“For example, we are supporting ongoing efforts by the Indian Air Force to airlift cryogenic tanks from Singapore in several batches, and facilitating Indian naval ships coming to Singapore to pick up relief supplies,” said the Minister.

He added that many Singapore-based private sector entities and civil society organisations are also chipping in, such as Temasek Foundation sending urgent relief supplies and essential medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, oximeters and ventilators.

“[The Foundation] is working with Indian partners to ensure that these are distributed to areas in need. Singapore Airlines has helped to airlift these items to India,” he added.

Beyond that, Dr Balakrishnan said that the Singapore Red Cross has launched a fundraiser and is currently coordinating contributions from the public and private sector entities which would be channelled towards procuring and distributing necessary medical supplies and equipment to India.

Since late April, India has been experiencing a relentless new wave of COVID-19 infections, with daily new cases rising to over 400,000 and death of over 4,000 a day.

On Thursday (6 May), India saw record new jumps in COVID-19 cases and deaths. It’s health ministry numbers showed 3,980 deaths in the previous 24 hours, taking the national total to 230,168, and 412,262 new cases, bringing India’s caseload since the pandemic began to 21.1 million.

India has recorded over a quarter of a million COVID-19 deaths so far, the second highest death toll of the pandemic.

As the situation quickly deteriorated in India, countries around the world began imposing bans on flights from the country. On 23 April, Singapore barred all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have traveled to India within the last 14 days from entering or transiting through the country as it went into “heightened alert”.

The new measure even applied to those who had prior approval for entry.

Another aspect of the rise in cases in India is the new variant of the virus first detected in the country last October. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has just classified it as being “of concern” on Monday (10 May) given that it appears to be more transmissible than other variants.

“There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility of the B.1.617,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s lead on COVID-19, told reporters.

“As such, we are classifying this as a variant of concern at the global level,” she said.

 

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.
Tags: Vivian Balakrishnan

Related Posts

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation
Labour

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

01/02/2023
Can those who lead us have the murder of children on its conscience by not taking decisive action against Myanmar? 
Opinion

Can those who lead us have the murder of children on its conscience by not taking decisive action against Myanmar? 

30/03/2021
Myanmar military coup: S’pore against use of “lethal force” against civilians by security forces “inexcusable”, says Vivian Balakrishnan
ASEAN

Myanmar military coup: S’pore against use of “lethal force” against civilians by security forces “inexcusable”, says Vivian Balakrishnan

01/03/2021
‘We should not import Western culture wars’, says Lawrence Wong in response to MOE’s recent transgression; then why is the Govt not following Asian examples when it comes to mistakes?
Opinion

‘We should not import Western culture wars’, says Lawrence Wong in response to MOE’s recent transgression; then why is the Govt not following Asian examples when it comes to mistakes?

03/02/2021
Opinion

Why rush through legislation for TraceTogether data when Parliament should be given proper time to digest and debate the Bill?

01/02/2021
Comments

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan admits making a mistake, assures legislation limits TraceTogether data use – netizens’ “trust” remains an issue

09/01/2021
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
8 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023
Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

03/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

Adani turmoil a key test for Modi’s India Inc

03/02/2023
Kajang cops chided for denying woman access to police HQ because she was wearing shorts

Kajang cops chided for denying woman access to police HQ because she was wearing shorts

03/02/2023
Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

03/02/2023
Minister Tan See Leng only reveals 500 intra-corporate transferees from India for last year – a Covid year

Increasing number of working Permanent Residents in Singapore but with a stable PR population

03/02/2023

A multi-party parliament is the only way to make sure that Singapore continues to not condone or tolerate corruption

03/02/2023
Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

03/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
36

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
39

...

May 2021
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Apr   Jun »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz