Coronavirus response: NATO Allies, Partners, NGOs and local business work together to deliver medical assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 7 May 2020, U.S. Embassy Sarajevo’s Civil Military Support Element team and NATO provided critical supplies and disinfection equipment to the Armed Forces and Community Health Centers in eastern Mostar, western Mostar and Nevesinje. These Community Health Centers and their members are at the forefront of the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fight against COVID-19. The donation was made possible through support from the non-governmental organization Spirit of America and local BiH businesses.
Today’s delivery follows a request for assistance from Bosnia and Herzegovina to NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). The EADRCC is NATO’s principal disaster response mechanism. The Centre operates on a 24/7 basis, coordinating requests from NATO Allies and partners, as well as offers of assistance to cope with the consequences of major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
As another demonstration of Euro-Atlantic solidarity in the COVID 19 crisis, NATO Partner Austria also delivered much needed medical assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this week. A first shipment of 1.500 blankets, 1.000 bedding sets, 250.000 pieces of examination gloves left Vienna on 30 April and arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 4 May 2020. A second shipment from Vienna is in preparation and will reach Bosnia and Herzegovina in the coming days.
In addition, in April, Bosnia and Herzegovina – together with other NATO Allies and partners in the Balkans region – received medical supplies provided by the United States, Hungary, Slovenia and Turkey. These included masks, overalls, and test kits.