A new assistance package for the Republic of Moldova

Bucharest continues its actions to support the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

Corina Cristea, 19.04.2021, 13:50

Romania has sent
another 132 thousand doses of anti-COVID-19 vaccine to neighboring Moldova. The
law signed by the Romanian Government regarding its assistance to Moldova
provide for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Moldova’s Agency for Public
Health with a view to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Romania has been sending
doses of the AstraZeneca serum to Moldova under the European Union Mechanism
for Civil Protection. The vaccines were delivered by a vehicle provided by the
General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations with the Romanian Ministry of
Interior Affairs.

The humanitarian aid to the Republic of Moldova, consisting
in medical equipment and anti-COVID shots, comes as part of an assistance
package the head of state, Klaus Iohannis, announced during his visit to the Republic
of Moldova in December, 2020, shortly after his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu,
took over as president of the Republic of Moldova. In early February, this year,
the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Bucharest, as the primary
contact, received an international assistance request from Moldovan authorities
via the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC), with
a view to combating the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The 132 thousand doses sent
to Moldova are added to the 72 thousand already delivered by Romania, as part
of special transports in February and March.

With the delivery of the third batch
of anti-COVID vaccine, Romania has fulfilled and even exceeded its promise to
Moldova, Romania’s ambassador to Chișinău, Daniel Ioniță said at the Leușeni
border crossing point, where he came to receive the serum donation. We want
these vaccines to restore not just the health, but also hope for the citizens
of the Republic of Moldova, the Romanian ambassador went on to say. Health
adviser Ala Nemerenco, who also attended the delivery event, expressed her
gratitude to Romania, saying that the batch will allow for quickly seeing this
pandemic through. Romania has always helped the citizens of the Republic of
Moldova, a Romanian Government release reads, providing assistance whenever
it was required in the spirit of the special relation we enjoy based on the
language, history and culture we share, founded on the Strategic Partnership
for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, the Government release
also states. (V.P.)