On 28 November 2021, Iraq received an oxygen generation system with a filling station as well as 100 oxygen cylinders from NATO’s Pandemic Response Stockpile, to help the country respond to coronavirus infections. NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency, and the NATO Mission in Iraq coordinated the donation in response to a request by Iraq for COVID-19 assistance.
The transportation of the medical equipment to Iraq was provided by the World Food Programme’s UN Humanitarian Response Depot, following a request for support by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The purchase of the equipment and its transportation was coordinated by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency, the NATO Mission in Iraq, and with the Italian Delegation to NATO.
The donation was handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq and will increase the medical capacity for Iraq to deal with the pandemic. Further support will be provided to Iraq for the installation and functioning of the equipment.
In 2020, NATO established a Pandemic Response Trust Fund that maintains a stockpile of medical equipment and supplies to be able to provide immediate relief to Allies or partners in need. Through the Pandemic Response Trust Fund, NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre has provided multiple tranches of COVID-19 assistance to 13 nations.