March 27, 2022
No. 069
COVID-19 cases have increased rapidly in Bhutan recently due to the spread of the Omicron variant in the capital of Thimphu and other parts of the country, placing tremendous pressure on the health care system. In order to fulfill its international disease prevention responsibilities and support Bhutan’s antipandemic efforts, Taiwan made an emergency donation of 50 oxygen concentrators and 2,000 N95 face masks to Gyalyum Charitable Trust (GCT), a Bhutanese public benefit organization. The donation was coordinated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India and the Taipei Representative Office in the Republic of Singapore (TRO). The antipandemic supplies were flown from Taipei to Singapore, where they were presented to the GCT representative in Singapore by TRO Deputy Representative Steven Huei-yuan Tai on behalf of the government of Taiwan. The shipment arrived in Bhutan this afternoon via a Drukair charter flight. GCT expressed sincere gratitude for Taiwan’s timely assistance.
The COVID-19 pandemic transcends borders, underscoring the urgency and importance of global and regional cooperation at this time. Taiwan is willing and able to continue contributing to the international community and working together to help Bhutan overcome the challenges arising from the pandemic. (E)