As
the Covid-19 pandemic reaches critical mass in Spain and Italy, across the
Mediterranean Sea, Algeria is receiving much-needed assistance from its trade
ally, China.
The north African nation has recorded over 130
deaths since the pandemic found its way to Algerian shores and has an estimated
1 300 ongoing cases.
Algeria has been hit more severely than its
neighbours, Tunisia and Libya, which have both recorded relatively low numbers
so far. However, recent spikes in Covid-19 cases in Morocco may show the virus
is gaining traction in the Mediterranean basin.
In late March, Health Minister Abderrhmanne
Benbouzid announced that Algeria would receive large shipments of medical
supplies from China, including 100 million protective masks, 40 000 testing
kits and other essential equipment.
Additional aid arrived in Algeria in the form of
an Air Algerie aircraft with equipment and respirators from the Chinese State
Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and a 13-man team of Chinese
medical professionals to assist and oversee operations wherever necessary.
According to Reuters, the Algerian government
has extended curfews across the nation, except for two predominately desert-like
provinces in the south.
In addition to donating equipment to Algeria,
CSCEC is in talks to build a hospital much like the Lieshenshan and Hiushenshan
medical complexes built in Wuhan in a matter of days. It has not yet been
announced when construction will start on the hospital, which will accommodate Algerian
and Chinese patients.
The nations have had strong ties since Algeria
gained independence in 1962, when China was the first non-Arab nation to
recognise the country’s independence.
According to the Algerian Health Ministry, more
than 3 000 Chinese healthcare workers have provided free services to Algeria as
part of a medical programme that has been ongoing since 1963.
The Chinese premier Li Keqiang confirmed China’s
commitment to assisting Algeria as the virus moves through the Middle East. Li,
who recognised Algeria’s donation of medical resources to China when Covid-19
brought some of China to a standstill, said the Asian giant is returning the
favour.