EU and UNDP support against the spread of COVID-19 continues with purchase of urgent equipment, mobilization of medical specialists and technical assistance for crisis response.

Nicosia, 3 April 2020 - The European Union, through a Contribution Agreement with United Nations Development Programme in Cyprus, successfully procured the first batch of urgent medical equipment and supplies for an amount of EUR 2.5 million and has also mobilised 25 medical specialists for three months to help the fight against COVID-19.
This is the first tranche of the EUR 5 million budget earmarked by the European Commission for the fight against COVID-19 in the Turkish Cypriot community. This action is the result of the long lasting and effective partnership with UNDP in Cyprus, which enabled a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic following a request from the Turkish Cypriot community. This comes in addition to the continued technical assistance to strengthen COVID-19 crisis management, coordination and response mechanism. 

The procurement of the first batch of urgent equipment and supplies was secured from suppliers in Europe and China, and is expected to arrive in Cyprus during the month of April. The first batch of urgent equipment and supplies, include personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators, Intensive Care Unit equipment, laboratory consumables and kits for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and medication such as antibiotics, antivirals, sedatives and paralytics. 

To improve the response capacity against the spread of COVID-19 in the Turkish Cypriot community, the European Commission, in collaboration with the relevant local stakeholders, is also financing the mobilisation of medical staff including 25 doctors, laboratory technicians and support staff. These staff can be mobilised with immediate effect as needed. 

The European Commission shall continue providing assistance to further strengthening the COVID-19 response capacities, notably in setting-up an effective management, coordination and operational response structure and upgrading the Turkish Cypriot response plan.