The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has received supplies and equipment worth EUR14 million to combat the health and socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The equipment is part of the larger EUR60 million EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme announced in June to assist the eight nations that make up the IGAD region – Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

The supplies handed over to IGAD included 16 standard ambulances and eight ambulances fully equipped with support technology; eight mobile laboratories and five field vehicles; 3.5 million surgical masks; 3.5 million gloves; 700 000 hair covers; 70 000 safety boxes; 35 000 face shields; 14 000 shoe covers; and 245 000 test kits.

The programme is supported by six organisations, namely IGAD, German development agency GIZ, the International Organisation for Migration, TradeMark East Africa, UNICEF and the UN Office for Project Services.

As well as working together to co-ordinate the delivery of health services to more than 400 000 people, and water and sanitation supplies to 500 000 people, they will create safe-trade zones to help vulnerable traders return to work on the borders.

15 September 2020
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