TASHKENT, May 1. /“Dunyo IA”/. Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan and United Nations Development Programme handed over humanitarian assistance to rural regions in Samarkand, Fergana, Syrdarya, Khorezm, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions during the ceremony in Tashkent, informs “Dunyo” IA correspondent.
The main goal of this initiative is to provide the most vulnerable people in rural areas, especially women and children, with protection items against coronavirus. The package included 52 thousand medical masks and 3,800 units of antiseptics.
Medical consumables were procured within “Technical Capacity Building” Component 2 of the EU Program “Sustainable management of water resources in rural areas in Uzbekistan” implemented by UNDP and the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
“The Ministry of Water Resources highly appreciates the support of European Union and UNDP not only in in the field of sustainable water management, but also against COVID-19. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” said Vokhidjon Akhmadjonov, Deputy Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan.
Over 31 thousand people received aid. Additionally, posters and booklets handed out to increase public awareness on infection risk reduction and COVID-19 spread protection.
In his interview, the Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan said that the coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis that has changed lives of many people worldwide.
“In this difficult time when the world faces health crisis European Union remains reliable partner to the government of Uzbekistan on responding to the humanitarian needs, strengthening health, water and sanitation systems as well as mitigating the immediate social and economic consequences,” he added.
Ms. Matilda Dimovska, Resident Representative UNDP in Uzbekistan noted that it is encouraging to see cooperation with Uzbekistan to become even closer these difficult times of a human crisis.
“I am inspired by our solidarity in supporting most vulnerable people living in rural areas, especially women and children”, highlighted Resident Representative.
