HIGHLIGHTS:
- The consignment included emergency Covid-19 medicine, pulse oximeters, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits
- India’s commitment to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief help as an early responder in the Pacific area
- Despite the logistical obstacles in reaching Kiribati Island, medical supplies were assembled and dispatched from India in a short period of time
“In response to the government of Kiribati’s request for offers of assistance in managing the first COVID-19 epidemic in the Pacific Island country,” the MEA announced, “the government of India dispatched a cargo of medical equipment containing PPEs and drugs to Kiribati.”
India supplied medical supplies to Kiribati on February 13, 2022, after the Pacific Island nation requested assistance in dealing with the first COVID-19 outbreak.
The consignment included emergency Covid-19 medicine, pulse oximeters, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). India’s commitment to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief help as an early responder in the Pacific area is reaffirmed with the delivery of medical supplies to Kiribati. Despite the logistical obstacles in reaching Kiribati Island, medical supplies were assembled and dispatched from India in a short period of time.
The Importance of India’s Assistance
India’s shipment of medical supplies to Kiribati demonstrates its commitment to provide disaster relief and humanitarian aid in the Pacific area as a first responder. It demonstrates India’s willingness to fully support Kiribati’s national efforts to address the problems posed by the covid-19 pandemic.
Relations between India and Kiribati
In 1985, India and Kiribati established diplomatic relations. Kiribati is accredited by the Indian High Commission in Suva, Fiji. In addition, Kiribati has an Honorary Consulate in New Delhi. Both are Commonwealth of Nations republics. Kiribati has backed India’s bids for membership in a number of international organizations. In 2005, it was one of 34 countries to co-sponsor a G-4 resolution on UN reform.
India and Kiribati have a commercial relationship
Between 1996–97 and 2014–15, trade between the two nations climbed from USD 260,000 to USD 1.01 million. In 2015–16, trade fell marginally to USD 940,000 due to India’s lack of imports from Kiribati. In 2014–15, India exported $1 million worth of commodities to Kiribati, while Kiribati imported $10,000 worth of plastics. Sugar & confectionery, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and non-railway vehicle parts are among India’s main exports to Kiribati.
Kiribati is a small Pacific island nation
Kiribati is an island republic in the middle Pacific Ocean that is self-governing. It consists of 32 atolls and Banaba, an elevated coral island.
