Russia supplied 65 tonnes of humanitarian aid to BRICS states during Covid-19 pandemic - minister

DURBAN, South Africa. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Russia supplied 65 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including medicines and medical equipment, to BRICS states during the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov said.

"Russia provided humanitarian aid to BRICS nations during the pandemic. Emergency Situations Ministry flights airlifted personal protective equipment (23 tonnes) to China in addition to drugs and medical supplies (42 tonnes) to India. A plane of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry delivered a mobile diagnostic laboratory and a batch of Covid-19 test kits to South Africa," Kurenkov said at a meeting with BRICS counterparts in South Africa on Friday.

The experience of Covid-19 containment will help BRICS members avoid similar situations in the future, he said.

"I have no doubt that our joint work on resolving the situation will lay a solid foundation for enhanced security of BRICS members and effective resolution of common problems through multilateral cooperation," Kurenkov said.

A delegation led by Kurenkov is paying a working visit to Durban, South Africa, on September 7-8.