The Gesture: Faisal Edhi, head of Pakistan’s largest charitable foundation, the Edhi foundation has penned a letter to Indian PM Narendra Modi offering a fleet of 50 ambulances to help with India’s lethal second wave of COVID-19.
Pakistan's #EdhiFoundation – built by the great Abdul Sattar Edhi – writes to Indian PM with offer to send fleet of 50 ambulances to help fight #COVID19India pic.twitter.com/bj5xfeK0l0
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) April 23, 2021
Current Situation in India: India has seen a fourth consecutive day of 300,000+ cases, and the death toll is around 22,000 a day, which has led to an extreme scarcity of oxygen supply. The healthcare system is about to crumble with the overwhelming number of patients coming in. The world has been watching the situation in the world’s biggest democracy with horror, yet little has been done.
JUST IN: 20 patients have died due to oxygen shortage at Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi, India.
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) April 24, 2021
The Letter: Faisal Edhi’s letter stated how the Edhi Foundation has been closely following the situation in India. He offered his sincerest sympathies with regards to how difficult the third wave had become for the Indian people. He further added that he has a 50 ambulance fleet ready to go to help manage the humanitarian crisis equipped with emergency medical technicians, office staff, supporting staff and drivers. Faisal Edhi made it clear that they don’t require any assistance from India as the Edhi Foundation would provide all necessary amenities, food, and fuel required by the team. He requested PM Modi permission to enter India with necessary guidance from local administration to direct the fleet to any areas of concern.
Public Reaction: The gesture has been praised heavily around the world, with people calling it the epitome of what Pakistan-India relations need to be like. Many talked about how this gesture has proved that humanity shall always prevail over all borders. Michael Kugelman on Twitter stated that it was an example that ‘must be set and that the world must see’.
Pakistan’s Edhi Foundation, founded by the late great Abdul Sattar Edhi, has done what most of the world’s richest governments have declined to do: Extend an offer of assistance to an Indian nation deeply in need. This is the example that must be set, and that the world must see.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) April 23, 2021