Russia has delivered coronavirus-related humanitarian aid to at least 46 countries so far, according to an analysis by Russia’s Center for Advanced Governance (CAG) advisory body.
Russia made at least 100 deliveries of Covid-19 tests, protective equipment, medicine and medical personnel to these countries as of Aug. 2, the CAG said.
Post-Soviet and Asia Pacific countries including China were the main recipients of Russia’s Covid-19 aid, the CAG said.
Syria, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba were among the other beneficiaries of friendly ties with Moscow. At least six Southern and West African nations and six Central American and Caribbean nations have also received Russian tests and equipment.
Russia’s Covid-19 aid to the United States and Italy early in the pandemic sparked accusations from the West that Moscow was attempting to score geopolitical points during the crisis.
The CAG said it collected the data jointly with Russia’s Humanitarian Monitor online project to identify coordination and public information issues within Russia’s development aid policy.
Russia’s Permanent Mission to the UN also launched a social media campaign dedicated to its emergency workers and military personnel involved in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic to mark World Humanitarian Day.
“The goal is to tell the world about humanitarian workers, this year’s real heroes, who are bravely saving the lives of people across the world during the Covid-19 crisis,” spokesman Fyodor Strzhizhovsky told the state-run TASS news agency.
