Ghaus Siwani/New Delhi

Islamic countries are at the forefront of supporting India as an unprecedented Covid-19 crisis has gripped India, overwhelming its healthcare system and caused a severe shortage of medicines, equipment, and oxygen.

Apart from Western countries like the USA, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Singapore, Sweden, New Zealand etc, Muslim countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar have sent planeloads of aid in the first go.

India is sourcing its cryogenic tanks and regular oxygen cylinders from Riyadh. The first shipment of four tankers that sailed from Dammam port also carried to India 80 megatons of oxygen.

The Indian embassy in Riyadh tweeted the news. At the same time, the Indian embassy in its tweet thanked Saudi Arabia for all its help.

More oxygen tanker are coming as the two governments areworking out its logistics. This was tweeted by Minister for external affairs S Jaishankar:

Discussed the logistics of urgently-needed oxygen and medical supplies. Team MEA is working as one to meet this challenge. #IndiaFightsCorona

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 28, 2021

Kuwait has also extended a helping hand to India in coping with the Corona crisis. Kuwait has provided many medical supplies to help India. Meanwhile, the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad also spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the phone during the Corona crisis and offered all possible help during the Corona crisis.

Qatar Airways has announced to assist India by delivering medical supplies to India from various countries free of cost.

We are grateful to @qatarairways for this gesture. Qatar is a close and long standing partner of India. We express our gratitude to His Highness @TamimBinHamad and the Government of Qatar @MofaQatar_EN for their support and solidarity to the people of India. @MEAIndia https://t.co/ov5aulu8sj

— India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) April 29, 2021

Another Muslim country, Bahrain, has also come forward to help India during the Corona crisis. Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa have assured India of all possible assistance in this difficult situation. The Prime Minister of Bahrain has decided to assist India after a high-level meeting in his country and medical supplies will soon be delivered to India from Bahrain.

At the same time, another Muslim country, Kuwait, has decided to provide medical aid to help India. At the same time, the UAE has given a message of solidarity to India by illuminating the world's largest building, the Burj Khalifa, in the colour of the Indian national flag and messages like India, stay strong.

The UAE has a long-standing friendship with India and the two countries continue to cooperate on various issues. The UAE is also a strategic partner of India and the UAE stands firm with India in this time of crisis. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah, Indian Foreign Minister S. G spoke to Shankar on the phone and was told that his country would provide all possible help during the cris

Meanwhile, an Indian Army C-17 aircraft arrived in Dubai on April 26 and returned with oxygen cylinders.

Taking forward our warm, close and multi-faceted relations. Thank our friend UAE for gift of 157 ventilators, 480 BiPAPs and other medical supplies. pic.twitter.com/Mua2Wfm9Fm

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 29, 2021

According to a report, Kuwait has sent 185 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen. The country has promised to send 1000 oxygen cylinders soon. 

The first consignment of aid is arriving in India soon.

Bangladesh has told India it would provide Remedsvir injection next week. It should be noted that there is a severe shortage of this drug in the Indian market and presently patients are sourcing it from the black market. 

The Indian government has approached several countries, including Bangladesh to purchase Remedsvir Injection. 

Turkey, a Muslim country, that had picked some quarrels with India in the recent past has shown empathy and also offer help though it is also facing a severe wave of Covid-19.

Pakistan's offer

Pakistan has also offered help to which India hasn't responded to. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the two countries should work together to fight disease in this difficult time. Pakistan's NGO Edhi Foundation has also offered help.