World sends oxygen aid for India's COVID crisis



Oxygen cylinders after refilled in an Ahmedabad factory amid the spread of coronavirus in India © REUTERS
 

Many countries around the world are sending oxygen to India. This is because of India's current COVID-19 crisis. India is the world's second most populous country, with over 1.3 billion people. It is currently struggling to cope with its latest surge in the coronavirus pandemic. There are over 300,000 new cases every day - the largest number of daily cases ever experienced by any country. 

India's health system can no longer cope. There are not enough beds, and hospitals are turning away people with the virus. They have also run out of oxygen. Singapore and the UK have sent much-needed oxygen cylinders to India. India's government has also arranged for Amazon to deliver 100 ventilators.

A Singapore Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Dr Maliki Osman, explained how urgent it was to help India. He said: "We have all witnessed in the past year how this pandemic is a trans-boundary threat. It gives no regard for country, nationality, or race. This is exactly why we must work collectively to support each other." The WHO said the situation in India was "beyond heartbreaking". 

It said: "The WHO is doing everything we can, providing critical equipment and supplies, including thousands of oxygen concentrators, mobile field hospitals and laboratory supplies." It added: "The growth that we have seen in case numbers is really, truly astonishing."

Source: Breaking News English

Comprehension

How many daily cases of COVID-19 is India having?
What does the article say there are not enough of?
Which two countries sent oxygen cylinders to India?
Which country's spokesperson spoke the urgency to help India?
What did the WHO say the situation was beyond?
What kind of equipment is the WHO providing?
What kind of hospitals is the WHO providing?
What did the WHO call the growth in case numbers?

Discussion

What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'oxygen'?
What do you think about what you read?
How can the world help India?
How is your country dealing with the COVID crisis?
What happens when a health system can no longer cope?
What is the best way to deal with a surge in coronavirus cases?
How useful are lockdowns during a pandemic?
How can we support each other better?
What is the best thing Indians can do in the next few weeks?

Vocabulary

populous- having a large population; densely populated.
surge - to increase suddenly and by a large amount.
cylinders- a three dimensional shape with two round shapes at either end and two parallel lines connecting the round end
ventilators - a machine that helps you breathe or breathes for you
astonishing - extremely surprising or impressive; amazing.