Kathmandu: At a time when the government is said to be tilting toward the Southern neighbour and facing the accusation of not doing much to bring in vaccines and life saving oxygen from China, a group of civil society leaders has urged China to support Nepal with additional vaccines, as the country has literally failed to provide treatment to rising number Covid patients.
“We [83 leaders and activists] would like to appeal to the Chinese government to support Nepal with additional vaccines so as to curb unnecessary loss of human life as a result of lack of access to vaccines,” reads the appeal to China.
In the meantime, the Kantipur daily on Thursday reported that Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi is reluctant to bring vaccines from China.
After the report was published in Kantipur, Leela Mani Paudyal, former ambassador of Nepal to China wrote on Twitter, “Nothing is important than people’s life! Vaccine is the only solution & China is the only capable to supply at present. I pray the wisdom prevails to the people in the power over all kinds of arguments they might have for holding on! I wish the news proves wrong!”
“While diplomatic relations between Nepal and People’s Republic of China date back to 1955, human relationships have lasted much longer and continue to be strong. It is during these unprecedented times, on behalf of the citizens of Nepal, we would like to appeal – once again — to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China to extend your whole-hearted assistance to urgently respond to Nepal’s grave health and humanitarian situation,” the appeal reads. The government of China has already provided 800,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal. Likewise, China has already committed to send 20,000 oxygen cylinders to Nepal as the country has been hit hard by the lack of resources to battle the second wave.
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