Britain sends another 1,000 ventilators to India as it records new record death toll of 3,900

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BRITAIN is sending another 1,000 ventilators to India today as ministers step up aid to our Covid-ravaged ally. 

And Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance have spoken to their counterparts in India to give advice and support – as the country faces a devastating third wave.

India has been ravaged by another wave of Covid
Fired burning bodies as the country struggles to cope with the numbers of cases

Britain has already donated 200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen generation units to help the country through the worst of the crisis.

Covid is still spreading rapidly as hospital beds fill up and make-shift wards have been set up across the country.

Boris Johnson will speak to his counterpart, Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday for a key bilateral on how Britain can step up – after he was forced to scrap his visit there over Covid.

It comes as charities, businesses and other organisations teamed up to launch fund-raising drives to help.

The PM said last night: “The terrible images we have seen in India in recent weeks are all the more powerful because of the close and enduring connection between the people of the UK and India.

Patients receive life-saving treatment for Covid in New Delhi

“I am deeply moved by the surge of support the British people have provided to the people of India and am pleased the UK Government has been able to play our part in providing life-saving assistance.

“The UK will always be there for India in its time of need.”

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the UK “can and should do more”.

Today it recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll since the pandemic began – a day after it became the first country to see more than 400,000 new cases.

More than 3,689 people were reported to have tragically died within the past 24 hours.

Dominic Raab is set to meet India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday on the margins of G7 talks this week in London.

He added: “We need to all work together to defeat Covid-19. No one is safe until we are all safe.”

But he refused to say whether Britain would send over vaccines to the Covid-stricken country.

It comes as Mr Raab will welcome the US Secretary of State on Monday in London for G7 meetings – the first face-to-face discussions in more than two years.

He will welcome Blinken and rally other foreign ministers around more cash for girls’ education.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/politics/rishi-sunak-says-lockdown-weary-brits-huge-spending-spree-has-kick-started-recovery/