KATHMANDU, May 21: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has sent emergency assistance to help Nepal battle COVID-19 surge. 

According to the organization, the first of three flights departed for Kathmandu carrying surgical masks, face shields, and gloves for health care workers in Nepal. As Nepal sees a massive spike in COVID-19 cases, this is the first of a series of flights, reads a statement by USAID. 

The USAID said it has provided more than $15 million to help the government of Nepal scale up COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, treatment, and infection prevention in the past three weeks. 

The agency is also helping procure oxygen-related supplies and repair oxygen-generating systems across the country. “This recent assistance, in addition to support over the past 15 months, brings USAID’s total assistance to Nepal for COVID-19 to more than US dollars 50 million,” reads the statement.

 
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