KATHMANDU: A shipment from Finland carrying urgently needed protective supplies arrived in Nepal on Friday, following the country’s request to the EU for assistance to contain its rapid surge in COVID-19 infections.

The shipment comprises 2,498,540 surgical masks, 164,500 vinyl gloves, 26,000 gowns, 349,920 KN95 masks and 288,000 face shields.

The Finnish assistance package contains 3,326,960 items (around 30t) in total. Pertti Anttinen, Ambassador of Finland to Nepal said, “The Covid-19 surge is claiming lives every day in Nepal and has rapidly overwhelmed hospitals and depleted medical supplies all over the country.”

He added that Finland and the European Union are ready to help in this serious situation and stand in full solidarity with Nepal to protect all Nepalese right to health and life.

The shipment, the second of several to follow from EU Member States in the coming days, is facilitated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Nepal is one of Finland’s long-term partner countries in development cooperation, a statement issued by the Embassy of Finland in Kathmandu said.

The Country Program focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene, education and gender equality.