Poland supports Belarus in the fight against coronavirus
24.04.2020
"Epidemics know no borders. That is why solidarity among neighbours is particularly important during this difficult time,” said Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz during the handover of humanitarian aid to our eastern neighbour. “A friend in need is a friend indeed. Today, we put these words into practice,” he added.
A convoy transporting disinfectants (about 50 thousand litres) and antiseptics (about 30 thousand litres), over 80 thousand litres of liquids in total, 100 thousand surgical masks, as well as a thousand packs of the Arechin drug, set off from Warsaw on Thursday. The official handover of the aid was attended by Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Michał Dworczyk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets Maciej Małecki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marcin Przydacz, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Poland Vladimir Chushev and Chief Commandant of the State Fire Service Andrzej Bartkowiak. Transported by the State Fire Service, the aid will be handed over through the Solidarity Fund PL to the Republican Medical Response Centre in Minsk indicated by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus.
“We enjoy good relations with Belarus. We share common history and actively cooperate in many areas. I cannot imagine us acting in a different manner today,” noted Marcin Przydacz. The secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets emphasised that the coronavirus epidemic shows how important solidarity is and that it is one of many Polish initiatives in the fight against the epidemic. “Such extensive support of state companies, which they have provided since the beginning of the epidemic is possible owing to the fact that the state has a decisive say in entities which are of key importance to the economy,” highlighted Marcin Małecki.
The head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister pointed out that a substantial part of the aid, as agreed with the Belarusian side, will go to the Voranava hospital and two hospitals in the Grodno Region, which is home to the biggest Polish community in Belarus. “We will support our compatriots beyond the eastern border by donating over seven thousand litres of disinfectant and 25 thousand medical masks,” said Michał Dworczyk.
By supporting the Republic of Belarus in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Poland shows its neighbourly solidarity and carries out its obligations arising from the Treaty between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Belarus of Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation signed in 1992.
MFA Press Office
