International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused countries to send aid, as part of the international responses and management regarding the pandemic. Types of materials aided includes masks, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, money, and test kits. It started with aid to China as the virus spreads primarily there, and then internationally as it spreads globally. The destination of the aid ranges from hospitals, COVID-19 healthcare workers, research on the vaccine, to societies vulnerable. People donating includes the government of said country, notable people, organizations and institutions, charities, as well as regular people.
Aid to China
Some Chinese students at American universities sent aid, including 50,000 N95 masks on 30 January. The humanitarian aid organizationDirect Relief sent 200,000 face masks and other personal protective equipment to the Wuhan Union Hospital the same day. On 5 February, the Chinese foreign ministry said 21 countries had sent aid to China, as well as Bill and Melinda Gates announcing a $100 million donation to the WHO to fund vaccine research and treatment efforts and protect "at-risk populations in Africa and South Asia." Interaksyon said the Chinese government had donated 200,000 masks to the Philippines on 6 February after Philippine senator Richard Gordon shipped 3.16 million masks to Wuhan. On 19 February, the Singapore Red Cross announced it would send $2.26 million worth of aid to China. Several countries donated masks, medical equipment or money to China, including Japan, Turkey, Russia, Malaysia, Germany, and Canada. The U.S. State Department said on 7 February it had facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China. The same day, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo announced a $100 million pledge to China and other countries to aid their fights against the virus, though on 21 March China said it had not received epidemic funding from the U.S. government and reiterated that on 3 April. Several corporations have also donated money or medical equipment to China.
On 23 March, a team of seven specialist physicians from southern China's Guangxi with medical supplies, including ventilators, medical masks, protective suits, test kits, and infrared temperature sensors, had landed in Phnom Penh to assist tackling the pandemic. In April 2020, Vietnam donated Cambodia with $100,000 worth of medical supplies.
China
China also aided the things needed as other countries have the virus spread faster and their country's graphs lowered. They, along with Cuba and Russia, sent experts and medical equipment to Italy in order to fight their virus outbreak, with China sending three medical teams and donated more than forty tons of medical supplies to Italy. Businessman Jack Ma sent 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million face masks, and 60,000 protective suits to Ethiopia for distribution by the African Union. He later sent 5,000 testing kits, 100,000 face masks and 5 ventilators to Panama.
Cuba
Cuba, along with Russia and China, sent medical supplies and experts to Italy to deal with its coronavirus outbreak.
The Czech Republic, along with the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and Georgia expressed concerns over Chinese-made masks and test kits, which has been aided to several countries like Afghanistan.
Eriteria
communities have been sending large volumes of money to support relief efforts in the country. For example, Eritrean Americans have sent at least US$4 million, according to the US embassy in Eritrea.
Greece
The Hellenic Ministry of Health has formed a 3-member committee responsible for the review and employment of all the donations in support of the National Healthcare System during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 7 May, Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias announced that donations worth about 90 million euros came from organizations, companies and individuals, as well as other states such as China and the United Arab Emirates. 40 million euros were for medical equipment, another 24.2 million euros were for personal protective equipment and there were another 12.5 million euros in cash deposits.
Indonesia
President Joko Widodo asked the United States for medical equipment, including ventilators via phone call to President Donald Trump, to which President Trump, in April 24, responded he will provide and also reiterated the intent to strengthen economic cooperation between the two.
Russia
Russia is one of the several countries to send aid to China during its peak of outbreak. It also helped Italy along with Cuba and China in the midst of their peak of outbreak.
