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Jul 9 2021

SALIS mission: Germany delivers COVID-19 supplies to Namibia


LUXEMBOURG - On 7 July 2021, an AN-225 aircraft, the largest and heaviest cargo plane in the world, left Leipzig Halle airport in Germany, with 70 tonnes of medical supplies. The aircraft arrived to its final destination in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, on 8 July, bringing COVID-19 relief supplies in the form of personal protective equipment, antigen tests and intensive care beds from the German Armed Forces stocks.

The delivery was part of a German humanitarian mission in support to Namibia. The relief effort was coordinated by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the mission was executed under short notice by the Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS).

SALIS mission: Germany delivers COVID-19 supplies to Namibia
The vital goods were received at Hosea Kutako airport at the presence of His Excellency Herbert Beck, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, The Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, The Honourable Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services, and His Excellency Sinikka Antila, Ambassador of the EU Delegation. 
Source: German Embassy in Windhoek

The goods will be handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Services for further distribution.

In Namibia, with a population of nearly 2.5 million inhabitants, the number of new infections is rising sharply. COVID-19 is affecting an almost unvaccinated population and the country's health care system is reaching the limits of its infrastructure. Further assistance from Germany will follow in the coming weeks.

The Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS) launched the Humanitarian Response Mission following a request from Germany, one of its participating nations. The SALIS programme, managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, provides its nine participating nations with assured access to up to five AN-124 aircraft within a few days. In addition, the current contract with Antonov Logistics SALIS also provides access to AN-22, AN-225 and IL-76 Chap IV aircraft.

This is the second time that the SALIS AN-225 aircraft has been used for a COVID-19 mission in under Germany's request. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SALIS has completed 17 missions and transported almost 1.000 tons of medical supplies.

Story by NATO Support and Procurement Agency

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