On April 30, 2020, a ceremony of the transfer of medical consumables was held in the office of the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan for rural people living in Samarkand, Ferghana, Syrdarya, Khorezm, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions.  

«The Ministry of Water Resources highly appreciates its key  and close partners as European Union and UNDP for supporting not only in in the field of sustainable water management, but for  providing assistance  against  COVID-19. As we used to say - a friend in need is a friend indeed»– said Vokhidjon Akhmadjonov, Deputy Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan.

As part of support to the Government of Uzbekistan in its response efforts to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus and protect the population, the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme have allocated funds to purchase personal protective means for people in rural communities.

In his interview the Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan said:“The coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis that changing life for many people worldwide. In this difficult time when the world faces health crisis European Union remains reliable partner to the government of Uzbekistan on responding to the humanitarian needs, strengthening health, water and sanitation systems as well as mitigating the immediate social and economic consequences”.

The main target of this initiative is to provide the most vulnerable people in rural areas, especially women and children, with protection against coronavirus.

52,000 reusable gauze masks and 3800 units of antiseptics are going to be conveyed  to rural people in six pilot regions of the project with a total population of 31,221 people. Along with the protective means, posters and booklets were handed out to increase public awareness of reducing the risks of infection and protecting against the spread of COVID-19 in Uzbekistan.

“It is encouraging to see that our cooperation has become even closer these difficult times of a human crisis caused by COVID-19. I am inspired by our solidarity in supporting most vulnerable people living in rural areas, especially women and children”, – outlined Ms. Matilda Dimovska, Resident Representative UNDP in Uzbekistan

Medical consumables were procured within «Technical Capacity Building» Component 2 of the EU Program «Sustainable management of water resources in rural areas in Uzbekistan» implemented by UNDP and the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The medical masks and antiseptics will be disseminated through makhalla leaders in pilot communities with support of basin water management authorities in each region. 

This initiative is part of an immediate response package developed jointly by partners to help overcome the COVID-19 crisis.