Coronavirus: Singapore sends 2nd batch of humanitarian aid to China

Singapore Ambassador to China Lui Tuck Yew (right) handing over the Republic's humanitarian assistance to People's Liberation Army General Hospital Medical Service Department deputy head Zhang Fu in Beijing on Wednesday.
Singapore Ambassador to China Lui Tuck Yew (right) handing over the Republic's humanitarian assistance to People's Liberation Army General Hospital Medical Service Department deputy head Zhang Fu in Beijing on Wednesday. PHOTO: MFA

Singapore dispatched a second round of humanitarian aid, inc-luding medical supplies, to China on Wednesday.

The Republic's ambassador to China, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, handed over the country's humanitarian assistance to People's Liberation Army General Hospital Medical Service Department deputy head Zhang Fu in Beijing.

The assistance was to help communities severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak in China and aid efforts to contain the virus, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. It was sent on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ802.

This follows an earlier dispatch of humanitarian assistance by the Singapore Government to Wuhan on Scoot Flight TR5120 on Feb 8.

In his discussion with Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng on Feb 7, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat explained that the humanitarian assistance from the Republic was part of a collective effort to help communities in China affected by the virus.

The aid included fund-raising efforts by the Singapore Red Cross, with support from Singapore's trade associations and chambers, companies and local community organisations.

Mr Heng had also told Vice-Premier Han that Singapore was confident that through close cooperation, the international community would overcome the challenge of the coronavirus.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 21, 2020, with the headline Coronavirus: Singapore sends 2nd batch of humanitarian aid to China. Subscribe