On Thursday morning, Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan (RA-82047) departed Shannon with tonnes of aid bound for Nepal. The flight was operated to Mineralnye Vody Airport in Russia with the cargo then continuing on to Nepal. The aircraft was loaded with a donation of 72 oxygen concentrators, 42 Ventilators, 12 Bipap Machines, 400 Oximeters, 50 Respiratory Monitors, 50 Defibrillators, 100 Thermometers, 1,126 Oxygen and Air Regulators, 99,750 Protective Coveralls, 201,600 Face Shields and 1,008,000 surgical masks.
The equipment was donated by the HSE, Respicare, Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, Nepal Ireland Society, Bartra Healthcare, Irish Red Cross, Air Liquide Healthcare, Home Health Care and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) coordinated the dispatch of this equipment through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, working with the Department of Health, the HSE, Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Transport, Revenue and others. This support from Ireland is part of the coordinated effort by EU Member States currently underway to provide a collaborative response following Nepal’s request for assistance.
