Thread by @NewsBytesApp

India has received tonnes of medical supplies from several friendly countries as aid in its fight against the catapulting coronavirus crisis. But where are all these supplies headed? #CoronavirusPandemic #IndiaCovidCrisis #IndiaNeedsOxygen #CoronaVaccine
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Indian as well as foreign media have struggled to find that out, but to no avail. Even Union Ministries in India are unable to offer much clarity on the issue. An officer said that all the foreign aid is being received by the Indian Red Cross. #aid #RedCross #IndiaNeedsOxygen

It is then sent to the Ministry of External Affairs, and thereafter, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs step in for domestic distribution. However, reportedly, no Ministry offered any details about the distribution of COVID-19 relief consignments. #Ministry

Officials in the Health Ministry in-charge of distributing these supplies have refused to comment. Meanwhile, sources placed in Health Ministry's COVID-19 task force informed dispatch of oxygen concentrators, part of the supplies received from abroad, is likely to begin by May 5.

Similar questions are also being raised abroad. On Thursday, a journalist asked pertinent questions about the utilization of the US taxpayers' money. In response, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said they don't know where to track the movement of foreign aid.

Opposition parties in India have also called for transparency in the distribution of the foreign aid. To recall, the Indian government had set up the PM-CARES Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and other outbreaks in the future last March. #PMCaresFunds #PMCaresFund_का_हिसाब_दो

Many prominent public figures subsequently announced donations to that fund. However, a section of the public and critics of the government have alleged the fund seriously lacks transparency and accountability. #IndiaNeedsOxygen #IndiaFightsCorona #IndiaCovidCrisis #CoronaVaccine