China donates new medical supplies to Syria to help fight COVID-19 pandemic

DAMASCUS -- A new batch of medical donations from China was delivered to the Syrian health authorities on Sept 24 to help the country fight COVID-19 pandemic.

The aid, raised and donated by a voluntary organization in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, includes face masks, goggles, protection suits and ventilators, according to the Chinese Embassy in Syria.

At a delivery ceremony at the Ibn al-Nafis hospital in Syria's capital Damascus, Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao said the situation in Syria has improved in terms of fighting the pandemic.

"I have confidence in the steadfastness, awareness, and courage of the Syrian people. We will defeat this pandemic. I am proud of this spirit ... and the friendship with the Syrian people," Feng stated.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Khleifawi, deputy Syrian health minister, said the Syrian Health Ministry is "extremely grateful for ... this precious gift that will help the health sector in Syria."

It is the latest in a string of humanitarian supplies from China since the outbreak of coronavirus in Syria.

On Aug. 18, the Chinese embassy in Syria donated medical equipment to the University Children Hospital in Damascus to help improve the medical services of the university's Bone Marrow Transplant Center.

On June 24, the Syrian Health Ministry received a batch of Chinese medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 4, the ministry received a similar batch of aid transferred by the Chinese embassy.

In addition, China donated a batch of COVID-19 testing kits to Syria to help its fight against the coronavirus on April 15, and a video conference was held between Chinese and Syrian medical experts on April 23 for sharing the experience in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.