SZ private sector donates masks to Myanmar

Representatives from the Shenzhen Charity Federation and Shenzhen Tema Team; Lin Yujia (3rd L), chairman of Shenzhen Rongshidao Industrial Holding Group; Cao Cong, secretary general of the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation; Zhang Liguo, deputy head of the Asia division at the Shenzhen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office; and Zheng Gang, adviser with the CITIC Institute for Reform and Development Studies, pose for a picture at Friday’s donation ceremony. Zhang Yu

The Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC) and the Shenzhen Charity Federation on Friday held a ceremony that marked the donation of 100,000 disposable surgical masks from local private groups to the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone of Myanmar.

The supplies were shipped to Myanmar on the same day and will be received and used by the COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control and Emergency Committee of Kyaukpyu.

The donation aims to provide support to Myanmar in its fight against COVID-19, and pass on the friendly wishes of Shenzhen to battle against the pandemic with people from the Belt and Road countries and build a community of common destiny for mankind, said SFIEC.

It was jointly initiated by Shenzhen Hongfa Temple Charity Foundation, Shenzhen Rongshidao Industrial Holding Group, and local marathon group Shenzhen Tema Team, and was implemented by SFIEC and the Shenzhen Charity Federation.

According to SFIEC, it has provided support to people of all walks of life in Shenzhen to participate in the global fight against COVID-19.

In partnership with different organizations, as of Friday, it has donated more than 1.8 million masks, 2,069 protective gowns, 250 testing kits, 10,000 gloves, 240 infrared thermometers and five air purifiers worth over 9.24 million yuan (US$1.38 million) to 17 sister cities of Shenzhen and institutions in nine countries including Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Italy, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Netherlands, Myanmar and Brazil.

According to data released by Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports on Thursday evening, the country reported a total of 41,008 confirmed cases and its nationwide COVID-19 death toll reached 1,005.

The number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 43,788 in Myanmar and the death toll from the pandemic in the country reached 1,066 as of Saturday, according to a daily release from the local health ministry.