Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng on August 19 donated relief funds and medical supplies to Myanmar to assist the country in its fight against Covid-19.

Bun Heng said the donation revealed the solid bonds between Cambodia and Myanmar, which is also grappling with the pandemic.

“While Cambodia is in the midst of a severe Covid-19 outbreak, we can still assist other countries. This is the great kindness and big heart of Samdech Techno [Prime Minister Hun Sen in expressing solidarity with people not only in the region but also in other parts of the world,” he said.

“Although Cambodia is a small country with limited economic capacity, there is the spirit of community participation, sympathy and willingness to help and share in difficult times. It’s in our culture.”

The medical supplies included three million masks, 500,000 antigen rapid test kits, 2,000 personal protective equipment (PPE), 100 automatic oxygen generators, 20 ventilators and 20 vital sign monitoring devices.

The government has also provided about $200,000 to Myanmar directly. In addition, Cambodia, through the ASEAN Community, has given $100,000 to the country.

Cambodian Red Cross president Bun Rany Hun Sen also donated $100,000 through the organisation to the Myanmar Red Cross to assist in alleviating the hardships its people are undergoing amid the Covid-19 crisis.

This marks the second time that the Kingdom has provided Covid-19 support to Myanmar. In November 2020, Cambodia also provided about two million masks and medical supplies to the country.

Last month, the government also donated $200,000 in relief funds and medical supplies to Vietnam. In 2020, Cambodia also delivered medical equipment to Laos, Nepal and Timor-Leste.

Cambodia has also joined ASEAN and some non-ASEAN members in the fight against Covid-19, Hun Sen said.