COVID-19 surge in India heartbreaking; US determined to help: Harris
Describing the surge of COVID-19 infections and deaths in India as nothing short of heartbreaking, US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Friday that the country's welfare is critically important to the United States. Pledging that the Biden administration is determined to help, Harris said that the entire government machinery has been galvanized to help India in this hour of crisis.
India helped US, it's time to reciprocate: Harris
India has reported more than 4,00,000 new cases daily in the past few days as hospitals reel under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds. "At the beginning of the pandemic, when our hospital beds were stretched, India sent assistance. Now it's our turn to help," Harris said in her remarks at the State Department's Diaspora outreach event on US COVID-19 Relief for India.
Indian-Americans have raised millions of dollars
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced $100 million assistance to India. In about a week's time, over six planeloads of COVID-19 assistance have landed in India. Indian-Americans have been raising millions of dollars. Sewa International USA has raised more than $10 million, the American Association of Physicians of Indian-Origin has raised $3.5 million, and Indiaspora more than $2 million, to name some of them.
Welfare of India is important to the US: Harris
"For years, diaspora groups like Indiaspora and the American India Foundation have built bridges between the US and India. And this past year, India has provided vital contributions to COVID-19 relief efforts," said the Vice President. "My mother was born and raised in India. I have family members who live in India today. The welfare of India is important to the US," Harris said.
Administration took action as quickly as possible: Harris
On April 26, President Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer America's support. By April 30, US military members and civilians were delivering relief on the ground. "As soon as the dire nature of the situation became apparent, the administration took action," Harris said, referring to the steps that the Biden-Harris administration has taken to help India in this crisis.
